Nurses accuse governors of frustration

Nurses have accused governors of frustrating them by denying promotions.

Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) on Tuesday told the Senate Health Committee that the health function be returned to the national government.

They said failure by Parliament to enact required laws to facilitate smooth service delivery in counties is to blame for incessant strikes by the health staff.

Lawmakers, they said, have failed to facilitate the formation of Health Service Commission to oversee the sector from a centralised position.

The workers believe the commission will address skewed employment, promotion and salary payment.

Knun Secretary-General Panyako told the committee that Parliament had not enacted any laws to transfer the role to governors, whom he accused of rushing to control the sector.

PROMOTIONS

“Health remains not transferred legally because we don’t have a law, which has transferred health as a function,” he said.

Governors, he said, have frustrated nurses, with some being denied promotions and transfers after staying in one station for three years.

“Some nurses have been in one job group for the last 10 years yet governors are saying they can’t promote them because the county government were not in place by then,” he said.

The committee chaired by Steward Madzayo (Kilifi, ODM) appealed to the nurses to put human life first as they engage the relevant parties to resolve the stalemate.

“Strikes in the health sector are not healthy and unions should exercise restraint when agitating for their rights,” Justice (Rtd) Madzayo said.

He said job boycott should be the last resort yet this is not the case in the health sector.

KILLING PATIENTS

“Health workers are walking away from patients. Instead of saving lives, they are killing. This is against ethics,” he added.

Committee Vice Chairperson Martha Wangari demanded to know why the strikes are not happening in other counties if indeed the workers problems were universal.

“Why the discrepancy between counties.  Health personnel in some counties have no issues. Is it that the unions are just uncomfortable with the health functions being devolved?" Ms Wangari said.

But, Mr Panyako said the nurses had no choice because they have responsibilities as professionals and family members.

“The calling will not put food on the table for my children. Our challenges must be addressed for the health sector to thrive,” he said.

Other Committee members present were Abdirahman Hassan (Wajir, ODM), Paul Njoroge (Nominated, TNA) and Halima Abdille (Nominated, ODM).