Nakuru court suspends Nandi health workers’ strike

The Nakuru Industrial Court has suspended the three week- long health workers’ strike in Nandi County to allow the two parties to discuss the way forward.

The court has directed that, in the meantime, the County Government of Nandi not to victimize any of the health workers for participating in the strike pending the outcome of the conciliation.

The court also directed that the list of the 44 health workers who were fired be released back to national government and eviction of staff from houses be halted pending the final settlement of issues in dispute.

In April, the Nandi County Government refuted claims that the striking nurses had been fired and their replacements sought through advertisement of 191 posts.

The county instead said the 41 striking nurses had been released back to the national government and their replacements would be done at a later date, adding the advertisements had been planned earlier.

The nurses had vowed not to return to work to attend to patients until the county government fulfills an agreement it signed with them on promotion and payment of allowances.

Kenya National Union of Nurses national chairman John Bii said the medics would not relent, accusing the county headed by Cleophas Lagat of ignoring their concerns and those of residents

Last week, health workers in Siaya and Meru counties threatened to down their tools if their demands for promotions and payments of arrears are not met.

According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Siaya County Secretary Dr. Evans Ogoti, medics have been silent on the issues but they cannot hold it any more.

KMPDU national Secretary General Dr. Ouma Oluga said that he wrote to the County Public Service Boards lamenting on how few doctors were promoted in 2015.