Kidero threatens to sack striking health workers in standoff over pay

The Nairobi County government has declared a strike by its nurses illegal and threatened to sack them.

The nurses kept off work for the third day Wednesday, paralysing operations in most public hospitals in the city.

The strike started on Monday after talks between the health workers and City Hall collapsed.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) asked its members to boycott work until their grievances were addressed.

Governor Evans Kidero on Wednesday said his administration recognised only the Kenya Government Workers Union.

“The current strike by the nurses is illegal and is mainly by nurses who belong to Knun,” he said.

However, Knun Nairobi branch secretary Eunice Ngari said they would only return to work when their grievances were addressed.

The workers have presented seven demands they want addressed by the county government.

They argue their counterparts, who worked under the defunct City Council of Nairobi, have better pay compared with those who joined the county government from the Health Ministry.

The nurses have also complained of “selective” promotions and delayed pay, saying they are yet to receive their August pay.

But Dr Kidero denied the claims, saying his government had resolved all issues regarding salaries and allowances.

RETURN-TO-WORK DEAL

Most public hospitals in Nairobi were deserted as the standoff continued.

At Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, which was the most affected, patients had no one to attend to them. It was the same case at Mutui-ini Hospital in Dagoretti.

Most patients turned to private hospitals. Those who had been admitted to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital and had not cleared their bills were, however, not allowed to leave.

“I have been here for two weeks and the nurses had demanded that we clear our bills by Sunday, but I did not have the money so I am stuck here,” said Ms Julia Njeri.

Meanwhile, Nyeri health workers called off their month-long strike Wednesday after the county government agreed to address their demands.

The nurses’ representatives and the county government agreed on a return-to-work deal after several hours of negotiations.

SACKING THREATS

The county agreed to effect the new house allowance recommended by the salaries commission and backdate the arrears to July 1.

“The county shall effect (the) new house allowance as recommended after consultations with the national government,” read the agreement.

The county was further directed to withdraw sack threat letters once the nurses resume work.

The nurses will also receive their August salaries that had been suspended by the county treasury due to the standoff.

Health workers whose annual salary raises had not reflected in their payslips were asked to verify their details with the county human resource department.

Health executive Charles Githinji said the county also agreed to hire 80 more health workers this financial year.

In Kirinyaga, the health workers resolved to end their strike that started last week. The workers boycotted work demanding risk and extraneous allowances. They also complained of lack of promotions.