Ministry suspends striking nurses
Striking nurses camp outside Nyeri Provincial General Hospital. Anxiety has gripped striking nurses and other health workers after they started receiving letters of suspension. Photo/ FILE
What you need to know:
- Union officials say the decision is contrary to agreed return-to-work formula
Anxiety has gripped striking nurses and other health workers after they started receiving letters of suspension.
In a terse letter signed by Mr Andrew Nyanchoga on behalf of the Medical Services permanent secretary, the striking health workers have been accused of absconding duty with effect from March 1.
The letter reads: “It has further been reported that you have been participating in the strike organised by the Kenya Health Professionals Society despite the fact that the strike had been declared illegal by the Industrial Court.
“You have been suspended from your duties and your salary stopped with effect from March 1, 2012.”
The letter is copied to respective provincial directors of medical services and medical superintendents, among others. (READ: Hospitals struggle as strike enters Day 10)
However, National Nurses Association of Kenya chairman Luke K’odambo said the decision to suspend the workers was contrary to the return-to-work formula.
“We had agreed (with ministry officials) that those on strike should be given a grace period to report to work from Monday without any victimisation for participating in the strike.”
Meanwhile, a group of the striking workers was stopped by police officers as they headed to the Prime minister’s office. They later detoured and marched to Kenyatta International Conference Centre.
At the Mbagathi District Hospital in Nairobi, services appeared to have normalised after striking health workers resumed duty.
In Kisumu, nurses who had reported to work converged at the Nyanza Provincial Hospital and said they would not resume duty until the suspension letters were withdrawn. (READ: Sack threat splits striking Kenyan nurses)
At the Coast, nurses have returned to work but were waiting for the talks between their representative and the government to resume.
Health workers at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru stayed away. Operations at Nyahururu and Murang’a district hospitals normalised on Monday after nurses returned to work.
Reports by Mike Mwaniki, Winnie Atieno, Movine Okoyo, Valentine Obara , Francis Mureithi, James Kariuki and Samuel Karanja
