Ragwa threatens to sack striking Tharaka-Nithi nurses

Tharaka-Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa has threatened to sack health workers who have not resumed duty despite getting their July salaries.

The health workers downed their tools last week demanding the release of their pay and called off the strike on Saturday after payment was made.

However, some are yet to resume work, according to Mr Ragwa.

Speaking in Chogoria Sunday, the governor said a number of nurses were still at home and directed hospital administrators to forward their names for disciplinary action.

“This will be treated as any other indiscipline case and serious action will be taken upon the individuals,” said Mr Ragwa.

The governor said most of the workers received their pay as early Tuesday last week but maintained they would resume duty once all of them are paid.

He faulted the county’s Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) leadership for what he termed as “being wrongly used by his political opponents” to paralyse health services when salaries are delayed.

“We had notified them of the financial problems and alerted them that the salaries may [be delayed] but all they did [was] abandon duty and leave patients suffering,” he said.

Knun branch chairman Fabian Marigu said he called off the strike on Saturday and all workers were expected to resume duty on Sunday.

“I believe everybody resumed duty from Sunday when I called off the strike, unless someone is out for an individual reason,” said Mr Marigu.

However, the nurses have threatened to call for another strike to demand for the immediate remittance of all pending statutory deductions