Judge saves striking health workers from sacking

Nyeri County Referral Hospital health workers stage a demo at Asian Quarters in Nyeri Town after they downed their tools on August 17, 2015 to push for promotions, among other issues. The county fired striking nurses on September 4, 2015. FILE PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The sacking letters were sent to the hospitals through medical superintendents and health centre administrators.
  • The county further instructed striking health staff occupying government houses to vacate them immediately before they are pushed out.

  • The county treasury was directed to stop the salaries of the staff boycotting work.

A court has stopped the Nyeri County government from sacking striking nurses, hours after they were issued with dismissal letters.

Justice Monica Mbaru of the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued the orders on Friday evening but instructed the nurses to return to work.

The judge also stopped the county government from evicting the medical personnel from government houses. The case will be heard on September 15.

The county government had sacked the over 800 workers and advertised their positions.

However, the employees, through the Kenya National Union of Nurses, said the county had no powers to fire them.

The county further instructed the workers occupying government houses to vacate immediately before they are driven out.

The county treasury was directed to stop the salaries of the staff on strike.

The County Assembly health and sanitation committee, however, opposed the move and accused the health executive Charles Githinji of poor leadership.

“The health workers have always been ready to meet and agree on amicable solution to end the strike but the county executive has refused to meet them,” said committee chair Duncan Mwaniki.

He noted that in the 2015/2016 budget, the docket got adequate funding for promotions and employment of health workers.

The sacking letters were sent to the hospitals through medical superintendents and health centre administrators.

BUDGET 'AVAILABLE'

The County Assembly Health and Sanitation Committee, however, opposed the move and accused Health Executive Charles Githinji of poor leadership.

“The health workers have always been ready to meet and agree on (an) amicable solution to end the strike but the county executive has stood in the way for these agreement and return to work formula,” the committee said in a statement.

Committee Chairman Duncan Mwaniki said the 2015/16 county budget had set aside money for promotions and employment of more health workers.

“We call on both parties to come up with (an) agreeable return-to-work formula. We need our residents to receive medical care,” he urged.

GACHAGUA DEFENCE

Governor Nderitu Gachagua has, however, said the county has met all conditions imposed by the striking nurses.

These include payment of July salaries and remitting most deductions.

He blamed the crisis on delays in the release of funds by the National Treasury.

And in an advert in the Nation, the county announced vacancies in the nursing department, asking interested candidates to send applications to the Nyeri County Public Service Board by September 11.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses welcomed the move to recruit more staff, saying that the union hoped the county would retain the new staff it employs to address the current shortage.

KNUN 'PLEASED'

“We are pleased that when we decide to return to work there will be additional staff to render better and fast services,” said Knun General-Secretary Beatrice Nduati.

On Wednesday, Mr Gachagua told Nyeri residents to seek services at private health centres and dispensaries as he works to restore normal services at public hospitals.

He alleged that the strike was being driven by external forces in a bid to mislead the public that his government was incapable of handling the health function.