FREE AT LAST! Governors drop suits against nurses’ union officials

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) officials can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Council of Governors (COG) withdrew contempt of court case filed against them following the signing of a return-to-work and recognition agreement on Wednesday, December 14.

During the negotiation process, the nurses’ union demanded that the Council of Governors, withdraws all suits it had filed against its (KNUN’s) officials.

The governors’ umbrella body had moved to court seeking to nullify the nurses’ strike that lasted for close to two weeks leaving patients in pain and agony.

The nurses’ union through its Secretary General, Seth Panyako, called off the strike on Wednesday, December 14 after a meeting held at Delta House, Nairobi with officials from the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health.

While addressing the press after a meeting with the nurses, Council of Governors chair, Peter Munya, said that the county governments will sign the recognition agreement thus meeting the top most demand made by the nurses’ union.

Calling off the strike, Panyako said: “We are very happy that what we have reached an agreement and what we have not discussed will be handled in the CBA talks beginning January 2016. From now the nurses should begin going to their places of work. The strike is off.”

The strike by the nurses paralysed health services in public health centres and hospitals, leading to misery, pain and death as patients were discharged and others forced to go back home.

On Tuesday, December 13, the Employment and Labour Relations Court declared the doctors’ and nurses’ strike illegal ordering the medics to resume duty immediately.

Labour Court Judge, Hellen Wasilwa, directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) bosses to use their powers to order their members to report work.

However, KMPDU Secretary General, Ouma Oluga, and his KNUN counterpart, Seth Panyako, called on their members to stay put and defy the court order.

During the Monday, December 19 withdrawal of the suits, the Council of Governors also promised not to take any disciplinary action against the nurses who participated in the strike.

The consent was adopted in court records by Judge Hellen Wasilwa.

The deal was sealed after the two parties moved with speed to present the copies of agreement in court for adoption.

Agnes Oloo and Dzuya Walter contributed to this report