Kenya nurses' union takes on counties over salaries

Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako briefs the media at a Nairobi hotel when he demanded that nurses be paid their dues by the government. This was on 13/10/2015. (PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU/ STANDARD)

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has asked members who have not received their September salaries not to report to work today.

The union said five counties, among them Nairobi, Bomet and Kiambu, have not paid health workers and the medics are now on a go-slow. Nyeri County complied on Monday amid threats of a strike.

KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako (pictured) said both county and national governments have become notorious for mistreating workers when it comes to salaries, claiming the country is facing a cash crunch.

"This country is simply over-governed with everybody administering everybody. We have no need for the Senate and 180 parliamentarians are enough. Having too many legislators is what increases corruption levels making workers miss their pay," said Mr Panyako during a nurses' education forum hosted by the County Pension Fund (CPF).

Panyako said counties have taken advantage of their devolved authority by failing to register their workers under CPF. "Since devolution no single county has been saving for its employees' pension," he said. Those dismissed earlier by the Ministry of Health are said to have been unable to access their pension.

"CPF was approved by both the Senate and National Assembly. The union therefore gives the Public Service Commission and Council of Governors 14 days to comply with the CPF regulations," Panyako stated.

The union accused counties of misusing cash meant for health workers by purchasing countless ambulances that end up ferrying patients to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for simple procedures.

Patients dying

"KNH workers are overwhelmed yet there are no facilities. That is why we have patients dying waiting to be admitted to the intensive care unit," he said.

Hinting that Cabinet Secretary James Macharia is partly to blame for the health crisis, Panyako gave the ministry 21 days to gazette the Nursing Council Board, " ... failure to which nurses will paralyse activities at Afya House". "We know Macharia has personal interests in Jeremiah Maina, the former Chairman of the National Nurses Association of Kenya," he said.