Nurses call off strike after 150 days

There’s reprieve for Kenyans after the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) agreed to call off their strike which has lasted for four months and caused untold grief.

The Union and the Council of Governors, signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on Thursday evening which means that the nurses will now resume work as soon as Friday.

KNUT Secretary General Seth Panyako said that the CBA will be implemented fully within 30 days, apologising to Kenyans who “suffered because of the collapse in health system owing to their strike.

“With the powers conferred to me with the union constitution and the Labor Relations Act, I hereby declare that the strike that began on 5^th June 2017 is officially called off and our members are advised to go back to work with immediate effect, by tomorrow 5pm,” said Panyako.

The nurses have had their nursing, uniform and nursing service allowances increased. They also agreed that all cases related to the dispute currently before court be withdrawn.

Further, the parties agreed that the CBA be agreed on and signed within 30 days and all withheld salaries be paid in full by end of November but not later than 31st December. Risk allowances will be increased to Sh30,000 in the 2020/2021 financial year.