Healthcare crisis deepens as nurses defy Governors' call to end ongoing strike

The healthcare crisis affecting many counties is set to persist after the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) rejected an appeal by the Council of Governors (CoG) to striking nurses to resume work.

The nurses, who are protesting unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), delayed promotions, and chronic staffing shortages, insist that the strike will continue until formal return-to-work agreements are signed.

The unions have also dismissed Governors' threats to replace striking workers, saying the recruitment of additional nurses would only help address the country's staffing shortage.

Hundreds of nurses and midwives on Thursday took to the streets demanding the full execution of the 2017 CBA, including harmonized salaries and proper risk, uniform, and commuter allowances.

Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Deputy Secretary General Maurice Odhiambo Opetu said: “The national government through the mother ministry has provided funding for paying UHC nurses on PnP but Governors have refused to take and adopt UHC Staff.”

The Governors however say Parliament must entrench the money allocated for UHC staff transition to the division of revenue allocation framework.

CoG Chair and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdulahi said: “We are all in agreement that UHC staff ought to be PnP. All we are saying is that the money must be in perpetuity, this year, next year and 20 years from now.”

The Governors accused the healthcare workers of striking despite a court order barring them. However, the striking workers have rubbished claims of replacing them, saying doing so would be an advantage.

“There’s a court order suspending this strike. As we speak negotiations for a new CBA are ongoing so we don’t know what they’re striking about. Let’s obey the law,” added Abdullahi.

Mr. Opetu noted: “Employ as many nurses as you want, after you have employed them, in one month they will be our members. If all our demands are not resolved by the CoG we are not going to turn backs.”

The High Court in Mombasa on Wednesday issued an order suspending the nationwide nurses' strike for 60 days and directed the KNUNM members to resume duty immediately.

The unions have however vowed not to stand down until their grievances are met in full.