Patients LEFT TO DIE as nurses, gov’t fail to reach deal

The pain, misery and agony currently being experienced by patients countrywide is set to intensify as the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) announced that the strike is still on and will get worse if no deal reached by Monday, December 12.

Addressing a presser in Nairobi o Saturday, December 10, the union’s Secretary General, Seth Panyako, insisted that the recognition demands by the nurses must be signed by all the 47 county governments before any deal is reached and demands made by striking nurses must be met before they can return to work.

While accusing the government of sabotaging negotiations, the union has further demanded that their pay be harmonized and backdated to January 1, 2014.

The nurses further said that they will leave nothing to chance and that they are closely monitoring the offers being made by the government. They also want any other offers given to other public servants to apply to them too.

“If the government gives the doctors their demand for 300% increase, that has to be implemented in all job groups including the nurses. Not playing the same game they did in 2013 where they gave doctors 300% and then gave the nurses 25-40%,” said the seemingly angry Panyako.

The union has further threatened to completely shut down Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on Tuesday 13, 2016 if their 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement is not implemented by Monday and if union dues to nurses who have joined the body are not remitted.

While accusing KNH of collecting money from nurses who have not joined any union, Panyako has urged all nurses who have not yet joined the strike to do so between Saturday, December 10 and Tuesday, December 13.

Panyako lashed out at the County Government of Nakuru’s move to hire 222 health workers on a temporary basis, warning that the union will not work with home guards who are planning to take jobs of striking nurses further promising to deal with the matter thoroughly.

The union, however, said that the ongoing negotiations have reported progress but no agreement has been reached.

The union boss further announced that the National Governing Council will meet on Monday to review the progress of the negotiations and make a decision on whether the strike continues or not.

“We do not want to go on strike every other day. We want a permanent solution.”

The union faulted the government on the existing statement noting that health is not fully devolved but a shared function.

“The mandate of solving this problem lies squarely with the government,” said Panyako.

On Tana River nurses offering medical services, Panyako said that the union supports them fully saying that Cholera is a serious problem that needs immediate attention.

The union was careful to tell the nurses that the only channel of communication they should adhere to is that of KNUN.