Nurses’ union issues 7-day strike ultimatum

Kenya: The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has given the county government a seven-day ultimatum to clarify the status of absorbing 189 of the union's contracted members, failure to which they will down their tools.

The members, who include nurses and other health cadres, are accusing the county government of failing to absorb them as per the terms of the three-year contract they signed in 2011 under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

"When our contract ended in June this year, the county government extended it for three months instead of employing us on permanent and pensionable terms. We are now hearing of plans to extend the contract for six more months. We will not accept it," said a nurse who sought anonymity.

STAFF RATIONALISATION

Since last week, more than 100 ESP workers have been camping outside the county government's offices demanding to know the status of their permanent employment.

They have also been seeking to know why the county is lagging behind in employing them yet other counties have already given permanent jobs to their colleagues.

"After discussing the matter with both the County Secretary and the Health County Executive, we agreed they give us a positive response in a week's time. If they default, we will literary stop working," said Boniface Maina, KNUN's organising secretary.

Maina and Joseph Leyian, the union's treasurer, attended a meeting convened in Nyeri between the nurses' union and the county government.

"The county government officials say they do not have enough funds to employ us and that they are waiting for the staff rationalisation process to end so they can know the number of staff they need," Maina said.

When contacted, Health County Executive Charles Githinji said he would comment on the matter after a meeting today with Governor Nderitu Gachagua and representatives from the nurses' union.

Last month, Dr Githinji said the process of employing health personnel was on course and would be finalised by October 24 when the three-month extension of their contracts is set to expire.

This was after more than 80 workers stormed his office demanding to know the status of their absorption by the county government.

Two weeks ago, KNUN officials including secretary general Seth Panyako held a meeting with the Council of Governors and agreed to form a six-member committee that will discuss employment of ESP workers among other issues.

Standing orders

Meanwhile, County Assembly Speaker David Mwangi has warned members who fail to attend house sittings of dire consequences.

Mwangi gave the warning when he delivered a ruling regarding adherence to rules of procedure after the assembly came back from its September recess.

Mwangi told MCAs that absence from the assembly sittings was the easiest way for one to lose his or her seat.

"The Constitution is clear that if a member misses eight sittings without written permission from the Speaker of the Assembly and is unable to offer satisfactory explanation for this absence, the seat may fall vacant," Mwangi said.

The Speaker also noted in his ruling that members must be punctual and plan ahead for committee sittings to ensure public participation.

"I can now say that the County Assembly of Nyeri has come of age. I expect we will strictly observe and adhere to the Standing Orders," he said.