Nurses strike still on starting Monday, Union says

Nurses strike still on starting Monday, Union says

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako insists that the nurses’ strike will begin on Monday February 4, 2019 as planned.

“We will stand our ground, we will not call off the strike and this is going to be the worst strike in the history of Kenya,” said Panyako.

Panyako further faulted President Uhuru Kenyatta for what he said was allowing politicians to run the heath sector.

“The health sector cannot be left in the hands of Governors because they don’t care and have different interests,” said Panyako.

Speaking to the press in Kakamega on Saturday, Panyako said that the union will not entertain any negotiation and reconciliation meetings by ministry of Labour and Council of Governors adding that the power to call off the strike now lies with the nurses and not his office.

The Union now wants President Kenyatta alongside the Cabinet Secretary for health to come forth and address nurses issues further promising to support the government to realize the Universal Health agenda.

Panyako who was flanked by other official including His deputy Morris Odhiambo lauded Governors Ali Hassan Joho, Alfred Mutua and Okoth Obado for their support with the nurses in their counties urging the others to borrow a leaf.

On Wednesday, the union announced that its members would boycott duty from Monday citing failure by the Government to honour the pay deal negotiated in 2018.

If effected, the strike will affect health services in 23 counties.

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