The Kericho County government has moved to bring in 150 nurses on an emergency basis as the nationwide nurses’ strike enters its fifth week.
Governor Erick Mutai said the newly recruited nurses reported on Tuesday, September 1, for induction and orientation before being deployed to various county hospitals.
The county government says the move is aimed at keeping essential health services running as nurses continue with their industrial action.
“We have made significant progress in our efforts to ensure that service delivery resumes in our health facilities, with or without the ongoing national nurses’ strike,” Mutai said.
He said outpatient services in the county had started improving, while inpatient admissions were expected to resume on Tuesday.
“Our commitment is clear: our people must continue to receive essential healthcare services regardless of the circumstances,” the governor added.
Nurses’ strike enters fifth week
The recruitment comes as nurses under the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) continue their nationwide strike.
The union has maintained that the strike will only end after the government and the Council of Governors agree to sign and implement their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
KNUNM National Chairperson Joseph Gwosi said some progress had been made in the negotiations, including resolving the issue of nurses who had been working on contract under the Universal Health Coverage programme.
According to Gwosi, affected nurses have started receiving letters confirming their employment on permanent terms.
The union and the Council of Governors have also agreed to form a joint committee to work on career guidelines for nurses.
However, implementation of the CBA remains one of the main issues yet to be resolved.
Council of Governors chair Ahmed Abdullahi has meanwhile called on the striking nurses to return to work as discussions over the CBA continue.
Governor warns against protests in hospitals
As the county brings in new staff, Mutai has also warned politicians and protesters against holding demonstrations in or around county hospitals.
The governor said demonstrations could disturb patients and interfere with the provision of healthcare services.
He urged those planning protests to remain peaceful and keep demonstrations away from patients and hospital premises.
“To the political vultures who may be hovering around our hospitals today in the name of demonstrations, I urge you to exercise restraint and conduct any demonstrations peacefully and away from our patients,” Mutai said.
The governor also announced that security had been increased at county hospitals to prevent unauthorised people from accessing sensitive areas.
The emergency recruitment is expected to provide additional staff as the county works to restore normal services while the wider dispute between nurses and the government remains unresolved.
