Nandi County government sacks 44 striking nurses
Ambulances belonging to the Nandi County government parked at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, one of those affected by the nurses' strike. The the county government has dismissed 44 striking nurses. PHOTO | DENNIS LUBANGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Among those sent home were Kenya Nation Union of Nurses county top officials.
- Mr Ng’etich and Sang dismissed the sacking, saying the strike was lawful.
- They said nurses would not resume duty until their grievances were addressed.
- Members of County Assembly demanded a quick resolution of the problem.
Provision of health services in Nandi could become worse following the dismissal of 44 nurses by the county government for taking part in a strike.
The nurses were struck off the payroll on Friday for disobeying a court order to call off their strike.
Among those sent home were Kenya Nation Union of Nurses county top officials, including secretary Amos Ngetich and chairman Paul Sang.
Mr Ng’etich and Sang dismissed the sacking, saying the strike was lawful.
They said nurses would not resume duty until their grievances were addressed.
County government secretary Francis Ominde directed the nurses to vacate hospital houses before the end of the day Monday or be evicted.
“The county government has sent files of the sacked nurses to the Ministry of Health in Nairobi. We will not recognise them since they are no longer our employees,” Mr Ominde said.
He added that the nurses were seconded to the county when the health sector was devolved three years ago.
DISOBEYED GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVE
The official said the nurses also disobeyed a directive from Governor Cleophas Lagat to resume duty.
The health sector was thrown in chaos two weeks ago when 850 employees went on strike, grounding services in the county’s 196 hospitals.
They were complaining of failure by the county government to promote them and increase their pay.
Mr Ominde said court orders must be obeyed, adding that the medics had been directed to report to work, pending the hearing of their case on April 27, 2016.
IMPUNITY
“We will not allow impunity and indiscipline.
"Those not willing to work should quit.
"We’ve put in place measures to ensure that the health sector is not paralysed,” he said.
Health Chief Officer Edward Serem had earlier written to Mr Ominde demanding that action be taken on striking nurses.
Dr Serem added that 191 nurses would be hired to address shortages in the main hospitals in Kapsabet and Nandi Hills towns.
Last week, police officers were deployed to hospitals when reports surfaced of nurses planning to storm them.
Members of County Assembly demanded a quick resolution of the problem.
Woman Representative Zipporah Kering asked Governor Lagat to seek a lasting solution to the health crisis.
