Mbarire calls for talks between counties, nurses as strike bites

Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire has asked counties to negotiate with nurses working in their jurisdiction to bring lasting end to the biting strike that has disrupted services at public hospitals – this coming as the one week after nurses downed their tools.

The nurses went on strike Monday demanding registration of the CBA they negotiated with governors – an agreement that grants them of Ksh.40 billion in allowances over four years, and one that has been rejected by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

Mbarire  now says that while the strike is national, counties can negotiate with their nurses to resolve their issues, as this would alleviate the suffering of wananchi.

She argued that while the CBA was signed by the National officials, each county has its own unique challenges, therefore there us a way for governors to break through to the nurses in their region.

Mbarire asked nurses to go back to their stations, adding that negotiations could still take place as Kenyans received treatment.

Lauding nurses for being the backbone of the Kenyan health sector Mbarire said that the situation should be addressed quickly, unlike the doctors’ strike that persisted for over 100 days.

She said that while the country is in a heated political season, the nurses’ strike should not take a back seat as Kenyans are suffering.