Counties

Kisii nurses back to streets after pay rise talks stall

kisii

Kisii governor James Ongwae. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Nurses in Kisii County have gone back to the streets to protest the failure to implement a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed by national union officials.

Kisii County Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) chairman Fredrick Oigo blamed governor James Ongwae for poor representation.

Mr Ongwae heads the Council of Governors’ human resource, labour and social welfare committee.

“All the other striking workers, including lecturers and doctors have had their CBAs signed.

“Even clinical officers reached a deal with the government. Why are the nurses being discriminated against?” posed Mr Oigo on Wednesday.

The nurses on Thursday claimed that the county and national governments had sidelined them after doctors, clinical officers and civil servants’ pay demands were met.

He said many patients had died since the nurses’ strike began because most of them could not afford to get treatment at private health facilities.

Mr Oigo claimed that many private hospitals had employed untrained staff to take care of the rising number of patients at the facilities.

“Even patients who seek treatment at private health facilities are not safe because some of the nurses there are not qualified,” Mr Oigo said.

“People are dying at home because the national government has failed to take the health sector seriously.”

Kisii County Knun deputy secretary Eric Rioba said nurses would not return to work unless their grievances are addressed.

He urged the government to sign the CBA before the August 8 polls.

The nurses gave Kisii County secretary Ronald Ombasa one week to ensure that nurses on temporary contracts are given permanent employment.