Nurses now target referral hospital in strike paralysis

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives officials led by the Secretary General Seth Panyako (center) during a media briefing.[Benard Orwongo,Standard]

Services at the country's national referral hospitals could be paralysed in the next seven days if the government fails to resolve the nurses' strike.

The unions have threatened to extend the industrial action to the facilities.

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) are among the facilities that could be affected if the government fails to break the deadlock.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) National Advisory Council resolved on Saturday to escalate the strike to all national referral health  facilities if the dispute is not resolved within seven days.

“Within seven days, if the strike will not have ended, the union will escalate the strike to all National Referral Health Facilities,” Secretary-General Seth Panyako said.

The escalation would widen an industrial action that has already disrupted services in county hospitals, with patients in affected areas forced to seek care at higher-level facilities.

Panyako said nurses would not return to work until the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is registered, insisting that the immediate requirement is for the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to issue a letter of no objection.

“The nurses will not go back to work until SRC issues a letter of no objection on what has already been agreed,” he said.

The dispute dates back to 2016 and centres on agreements reached between the union and the government, including a 2017 return-to-work agreement that provided for improved allowances for nurses.

Panyako said the agreement has never been fully implemented by county governments despite years of negotiations.

“As a union, we have been so patient for about 10 years. 2016 up to now is almost 10 years,” he said.

The current dispute followed the collapse of negotiations between the union and a central CBA negotiating committee formed by the Council of Governors. Talks began in March but later stalled, prompting the union to issue a strike notice and begin the strike on July 29.

The union has maintained that it will not be persuaded to call off the strike through court orders or threats of disciplinary action.

“We are law-abiding citizens, ready to appear to courts, and ready to tell the courts that we want to take the punishment that might be meted on us,” Panyako said.

“If that is what will mean the nurses of this country can be respected and their CBA can be signed and registered in court. Otherwise, there is no going back to work.”

Panyako also accused SRC of withholding letters of no objection for counties where nurses have already concluded CBAs.

He cited Elgeyo Marakwet, saying nurses there had signed a CBA but were still waiting for the commission's approval.

“Sign that CBA for Elgeyo Marakwet today, and we call off the strike in Elgeyo Marakwet today,” he said.

For now, the union says there is only one condition that can end the strike.

“It is only a letter of no objection from SRC. Nothing else,” Panyako said.

The seven-day ultimatum now puts the country's national referral hospitals at the centre of the dispute, with the union warning that the strike will be expanded if the government fails to act.