Kakamega health boss talks tough as nurses' strike continues
The main entrance to the Kakamega County General, Teaching and Referral Hospital.
A strike by nurses caring for Covid-19 patients at the Kakamega General hospital entered its third day on Saturday, reports indicating a significant disruption of services.
Officials of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) said at least 67 nurses were taking part in the strike.
However, county Health executive Collins Matemba said only 24 nurses on locum duties had boycotted duty. He termed their demands unrealistic at a time when the county is struggling to raise money to drugs and medical kits.
“Knun has written a letter making several demands, including payment of risk allowances, which it wants fulfilled before nurses report back to work,” he said.
Dr Matemba said Deputy Governor Philip Kutuma held a meeting on Friday to discuss the issue but accused nurses of planning to blackmail the county.
“We have made preparations to pay their November allowances and look for Sh1.2 million to pay allowances and salaries for the two months before that but the union is playing politics, which won’t work,” he said.
He said the nurses are being paid Sh26,000 each per month, not Sh10,000 as union officials claim.
“I’m not prepared to meet them (union officials) to discuss this issue since they are acting insincerely. They should know the county government is struggling to raise money to buy drugs and non-pharmaceuticals to ensure patients continue receiving services at the hospital.”
The complaints
Patients at the teaching and referral hospital and those at Mumias Level Four Hospital were left unattended when nurses went on strike, protesting against poor working conditions and lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
They accused Governor Wycliffe Oparanya’s administration of failing to provide testing kits for them and to ensure those infected receive treatment.
They further complained that they are not being offered transport services to and from isolation centres.
Mr Renson Bulunya, Knun’s Kakamega branch secretary, said the nurses have not received their allowances while those on locum duties have gone without salaries for the last six months.
“It is unfortunate that the county has failed to ensure nurses working under very difficult circumstances are taken care of and paid promptly,” said Mr Bulunya.
“The nurses are supposed to have 14 days off but they are only allowed seven and are being exposed to the risk of infection while attending to patients,” he added.
