Kitui nurses go on strike over pay

Nurses in Kitui have downed their tools over unpaid July salaries.

Addressing the press, officials of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (Kitui chapter) said they had given the county government a seven days’ notice which elapsed on Wednesday.

The union officials, led by Secretary General Newton Kimanthi, asked nurses across the county to stay away from work until their July salaries are paid.

“We gave the county government a one-week notice to pay our members, but there is no communication,” Kimanthi said.

In a letter by County Secretary Joshua Chepchieng on Monday and addressed to all Chief Officers, the county government acknowledged the delay of the salaries but shifted blame to the county assembly.

Strike compromise

“This is to inform you that the assembly has not yet given the county executive vote on account approval pending the consideration and approval of the budget estimates for 2020/2021 financial year,” the county secretary wrote.

He added: “For this reason there will be unusual delay in payment of July 2020 salaries and wages.”

The budget standoff has attracted the attention of the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o who early this week urged the two warring arms of the county government to strike a compromise.