Nurses strike called off after govt signs deal with union

A faction of the Kenya National Union Of Nurses (KNUN) led by Deputy Secretary General Maurice Odhiambo and the Ministry of Health on Sunday reached a return to work agreement, ending the nurses’ week-long strike.

The deal was reached following negotiations spearheaded by Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu, and the council of governors led by Kisii Governor James Ongwae was signed at the ministry headquarters in Afya house, Nairobi.

In the agreement, the government offered to pay the nurses an increased nursing service allowance of Ksh20, 000 for job group G-L and Ksh15, 000 for job group M and above payable in two parts, with 60 per cent of the increase payable in January 2017 and the remaining 40 per cent in July 2017.

“Parties will ratify the deal on Monday, December 12, at Nairobi Railways Club,” said Mr Odhiambo.

KNUN chairman John Bii said that the agreement is a portion was of the harmonized Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that they were demanding for during the strike.

“After thorough consultations with the negotiating teams we agreed that Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is not a one off process, it takes time,” said Bii.

The nurses reiterated their keenness to continue negotiating for the full settlement of the harmonized collective bargaining agreement and have it ratified by all parties to avoid a scenario like one that occurred during their strike when the government threatened to ignore their CBA saying it was not duly signed by all parties.

The union had called for a 21-day countrywide strike that has lasted a week and paralysed operations in public hospitals across the country.

This even as doctors in the country continue with their strike to push for the full implementation of their collective bargaining agreement.