By Ernest Bandi
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has issued a 26-day strike notice to both the national and county governments, warning of a nationwide shutdown of nursing services if their long-standing grievances are not addressed.
Speaking during a press briefing, KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako accused the two levels of government of continuously ignoring the union’s concerns, some of which have remained unresolved for over seven years despite repeated appeals.
Panyako announced that, effective June 24, all nurses across the country will down their tools unless immediate action is taken to employ nurses under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program on permanent and pensionable terms.
“Nurses employed under UHC have suffered for more than five years, earning peanuts while doing the same job as their counterparts with equal qualifications,” said Panyako. “It is unfair and unsustainable.”
The Secretary General also decried the poor working conditions and low remuneration faced by nurses under UHC, despite their professional qualifications and the critical role they play in the delivery of healthcare services.
He emphasized that unless the government moves swiftly to meet the union’s demands, the strike would severely disrupt healthcare services across the country.
“If our demands are not met within the 26 days, nursing services in all public health facilities will be paralyzed,” he warned.
The looming strike has sparked concern among members of the public, with many expressing fears over its potential impact on the country’s already strained healthcare system. Several citizens have called on the Ministry of Health and county governments to urgently engage in dialogue with the union and seek the intervention of Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha to prevent the strike.
KNUN's notice comes at a time when the health sector is already grappling with staffing shortages and funding challenges. A nationwide nurses’ strike could further worsen the situation, affecting millions of Kenyans who rely on public healthcare services.
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