Busia: The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives Busia branch has announced a 90-day suspension of its strike to allow the county government to address unresolved issues, including the implementation of the 2024 SRC circular.
According to Kenya News Agency, the branch secretary, James Omusugut, confirmed the suspension following a meeting with county government representatives. He stated that the 90-day period is intended to provide the government sufficient time to address all pending issues raised by the union.
Omusugut directed nurses to resume work within 48 hours, warning that failure to resolve the issues within the stipulated time would lead to the resumption of the strike. The union has negotiated the implementation of allowance increments and addressed the concerns of UHC workers.
The union and the county government have agreed to implement the return-to-work formula of 2017, which includes increasing uniform allowances from 10,000 to 25,000 and raising the nursing service allowance from 20,000 to 30,000 over three financial years. The issue of the UHC staff has been resolved with the national government's involvement.
However, Omusugut noted that some issues, such as third-party deductions, remain unresolved. The county government has committed to settling SHA payments by August within 30 days of signing the agreement. Discussions on the implementation of the SRC circular of 2024 will continue, with another meeting set for 30 days to review progress.
Busia Deputy Governor and CECM for health, Arthur Odera, expressed the county's commitment to resolving outstanding issues, emphasizing the importance of a harmonious relationship between nurses and the county administration. He assured that the unresolved issues would be addressed within the three-month suspension period.
Busia County Secretary Oscar Juma highlighted the financial implications of the pending issues and the need for thorough analysis to ensure a sustainable solution. He assured the workers of the county government's dedication to resolving the issues through proper procedures and protocols. Juma urged nurses to return to work to maintain service delivery and support revenue generation for addressing their demands.