KNUN Nandi branch issues a strike notice
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) officials Nandi county Branch have issued a strike notice to commence on 6th April 2016 if their issues will not have been resolved by 5th April.
Addressing the press at Kapsabet Referral hospital, KNUN Chair John Bii together with the union’s Branch secretary Nandi county Amos Ng’etich said their are still complaints that several grievances remained unresolved even after signing a memorandum of Agreement on 22nd January 2016 with the the county government.
The grievances are unduly delayed /denied promotions, refusal to pay arrears for ESP’s who were confirmed in therein appointment with effect from 1st July 2015 up to date including 31st December 2015.
The Two Unionists further explained that the county government of Nandi through the ministry of Health still went ahead to ignore the directives of the public service board on waiver of computer certificates requirement on promotions thus forcing them to down their tools if the issue will not be addressed by 5th.
They claimed the county government of Nandi is not serious in handling issues affecting health workers and by so have unanimously agreed to strike on Wednesday next week.
“Promotions have not been done so far despite an MOU signed last year.” They chorused in unison.
Above all, they revealed that health workers in Nandi are working under poor conditions as some of the hospitals are not well equipped, no drugs despite a budget of 1.2 Billion shillings being set aside for the county’s health sector.
They complained that despite the huge budget allocated to health, the money is not going down to the patients.
They threatened to mobilize members in readiness to the strike should the county government fail to heed their notice though they remain open to dialoque in the interim period up to 5th April 2016 at 11.59 pm