Siaya: The nurses' strike that brought services at public health facilities to a halt in Siaya county has been called off following an agreement between the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) and the county government. In the agreement signed between the union officials and the county government top brass, led by county secretary Joseph Ogutu, the nurses resolved to suspend their industrial action for 30 days to give the devolved unit time to address their grievances.
According to Kenya News Agency, the county secretary, addressing the media at the county headquarters, stated that both parties agreed on the contended matters. "We have signed an agreement with the union officials that paves way for the nurses to resume duties with immediate effect," said Ogutu. He was accompanied by the county executive committee member for health, Dr. Martin K'onyango, and the chief officer for governance, Walter Okello.
KNUN Siaya branch secretary Hamisi Kennedy confirmed the decision to suspend the strike following consultations with their employer and the union's national office. Hamisi urged local nurses to ensure the immediate resumption of duties. Branch chairman Dennis Omollo noted that the union signed the agreement in good faith and expressed confidence that the employer would address all contentious issues.
Health services in the county had come to a halt last Friday when nurses downed their tools, protesting against the county government's failure to address their grievances. The nurses marched through Siaya town to the governor's office to seek an audience with top county officials. Their grievances included delayed promotions, chronic understaffing, and the employer's failure to remit statutory deductions on time.
Further accusations were leveled at the government for failing to absorb nurses who have served under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program on contract for over five years and for not implementing key provisions of the collective bargaining agreement signed with KNUN, which introduced improved nursing and uniform allowances.