Sweet news for nurses as pay raise approved

By Ngari Gichuki

Nairobi, Kenya: Nurses from all over the country will receive a salary increment from June, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has said.

Macharia was speaking at the launch of the International Nurses Week at Kenyatta National Hospital.

The Cabinet Secretary said the pay increase was aimed at motivating nurses to provide better services and stop their mass exodus from public to private institutions.

“The ministry is aware of the great work done by our nurses, that’s why all nurses will receive a pay increase. We will also improve their working conditions and bring in better equipment to boost their morale and increase their efficiency in their service delivery to Kenyans,” said Macharia.

Patient harassment

He called on the nurses to uphold good moral conduct and ethics to put an end to the recent cases of patient harassment, adding that the ministry would not tolerate indiscipline.

“Indiscipline in our hospitals won’t be tolerated. I call on you to flush out the hooligans among you who are out to tarnish your good name. I also want to state that whoever will be found guilty of any malpractice will not only be relieved of their duties, but also banned from practising in any other Government institution,” said Macharia.

In addition, he said the ministry and county governments would combine efforts to increase the number of nurses in all public health institutions to ensure proper service delivery to all patients.