Nurses in Vihiga County have shelved their plan to go on strike over unpaid nurse service allowances.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Vihiga branch chairman Zadock Miheso and Secretary General Caleb Maloba had threatened to mobilize their members to go on strike if the January allowances were not paid.
The KNUN and national government had agreed that all nurses were to pocket between Kshs 5,000 and Kshs 20,000 monthly as nurse service allowance before they resumed work.
Maloba said that some nurses in other counties had received their January allowances but Vihiga county government was yet to pay its health workers.
In a heated meeting between the KNUN officials and county government led by Health Chief Officer Lucy Ijai, they agreed to continue working until 09th February 2017 when they will be paid their allowances.
“Please go back to work. The county government will ensure that you receive your allowances before 9th February 2017,” appealed Ijai.
She said that the allowances could not be included in the January pay slip because the treasury did not release the funds in time.
The union officials agreed to down their tools on 9th this month if their money wouldn’t be availed.
The nurses vowed to paralyze services in several public health institutions if they don’t receive their allowances as promised by the county government.
“It is very clear the county has committed itself to honour the deal. We will not accept anything else by 9th of this month,” said Maloba.
Speaking to its members and the press today in Mbale town, the union officials called on their members to be calm and wait for the deal as promised by the county government after several members wanted to boycott work until they were paid in cash.