Medical practitioners in Trans Nzoia County have joined the nationwide medics’ strike, with health services interrupted at Kitale Level Four Hospital. Patients were left unattended to by nurses following the nationwide strike, and they called for the government and medical practitioners to find a truce and solve the impending issue.
“We call upon the county government administration and nurses to dialogue and find a solution, which is only getting worse,” said Jackton Ajwang, a patient at the hospital. All wards and the maternity wing were deserted, including the reception area.
The strike has affected all activities at the hospital with medical practitioners calling for the government to heed the CBA agreement, and harmonize their salaries.
Nurses led by Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Branch secretary William Sifuna said they will not go to work until their demands are met by Governor Khaemba.
They said that the county government of Trans Nzoia has not paid attention to their requests, adding that they won’t go back to work if their grievances are not solved.
“We demand Governor Khaemba to work closely with other Governors to sign our Collective Bargaining Agreement so that we get back to work immediately,” said Wafula. The nurses moved around Kitale town waving branches and twigs, as they chanted songs.
On his part, Trans Nzoia county Governor Patrick Khaemba has denounced the strike and called upon the nurses to go back to work and give dialogue a chance.
Khaemba said nurses have not honoured a court order that ruled the strike illegal, calling upon them to return to work immediately as their grievances are being sorted out by the necessary bodies including the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), The Ministry of Labor, together with the Council of Governors.
He warned striking nurses against causing disturbances around hospitals, by attacking or intimidating their counterparts who haven’t gone on strike yet, saying that those who will be found doing this will be prosecuted.
He said he has sent his team of officers to Nairobi to discuss the matter, as their grievances will be solved.
