Nakuru nurses paralyse services as they go on strike
Patients at the casualty area at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital in Nakuru on May 5, 2016 when nurses went on strike. FILE PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Julius Nyambaka, a member of the nurses’ union said the return to work formula over a year ago involved promotions for nurses and other health workers.
- Dickson Aruasa a nurse from Naivasha sub county hospital said the few who have been promoted are yet to receive their full pay.
- Mr Aruasa said that the few promotion that have been effected have been done in an inconsistent manner since they were supposed to be backdated to July while the current ones were backdated to November 1.
Nakuru nurses have officially gone on strike over poor working conditions, promotions and lack of crucial facilities in public hospitals.
They have threatened to remain away from their working stations claiming they have held fruitless meetings with the county government.
According to the nurses, this follows a return to work formula signed in July where the two parties agreed to implement promotions by January 2016 for all eligible officers.
Mr Julius Nyambaka, a member of the nurses’ union said the return to work formula over a year ago involved promotions for nurses and other health workers.
Mr Nyambaka who spoke during the launch of the strike at Railways grounds next to Nakuru Level Five Hospital said that there was an agreement that, all eligible for promotions receive their letters by the beginning of 2016 but it’s yet to be implemented.
He noted that due to the delayed promotions, others have retired before they could be promoted.
The nurses claimed that the county government had failed to recognise those who have gone an extra mile to further their studies.
“Some of the nurses have spent a lot of money to further their studies and we need them placed in the positions they deserve,” he said.
He added that the nurses are unable to provide services since there is no fresh employment despite retirements registered every year.
“We are tired of the empty promises and anybody visiting the public hospitals should be informed that we shall not be offering nursing services until our issues are addressed. We have given the county government enough time but they’ve not acted,” he said.
Dickson Aruasa a nurse from Naivasha sub county hospital said the few who have been promoted are yet to receive their full pay.
Mr Aruasa said that the few promotion that have been effected have been done in an inconsistent manner since they were supposed to be backdated to July while the current ones were backdated to November 1.
Nurses' union chairperson Cyprian Odera said Nakuru County has over 1200 nurses working in public health facilities.
At the Nakuru Level Five Hospital, patients were stranded while security guards were forced to intervene by directing them to seek services elsewhere.
