Striking Uasin Gishu nurses ignore governor’s return to work order

More than 80 striking nurses in Uasin Gishu County have not returned to work even after Governor Jackson Mandago ordered them to report to their stations Tuesday.

A meeting held Wednesday between the nurses’ union and officials from the county government failed to reach a consensus.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) Uasin Gishu branch chairman Simon Kibii said the strike was still on.

“We will not relent until our demands are met. The county government should address the nurses’ plight once and for all,” said Mr Kibii.

Early this week, the striking nurses attempted to storm the governor’s office but were stopped by the county askaris.

The county government has maintained that all the health workers had been paid their three-month salary arrears, a claim the nurses have denied.

Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno and the county's executive in charge of Health, Eunice Syria, claimed that the nurses had been paid.

UNION 'MISLEADING' NURSES

“We paid all their salaries last month. I wonder why they were still striking, this strike is illegal. Those supposed to be on duty should report to their duties,” said Mr Chemno.

At the same time, nurses in the county who were employed under the Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) and whose contracts have expired are also still on strike demanding to be employed on permanent terms.

Mr Chemno said the union should stop misleading the ESPs, who are not union members.

“We paid EPSs their salaries on 25th of August 2014, we do not owe them anything. Immediately their contracts expired we gave them forms to sign. Some ESPs went ahead and signed while others refused completely,” said Mr Chemno.

He said that the county's Public Service Board was the only body with the mandate to address the health workers' grievances and urged the union officials to keep off the issue.

Ms Syria said that the county would only talk with the ESPs after they fill their evaluation forms.