The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has warned of a possible nationwide strike after 20 nurses were injured when their protest in Siaya was violently disrupted by armed goons.
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, October 1, the union accused Siaya Governor James Orengo of allowing the attack, warning that attempts to silence health workers through violence will only worsen the standoff.
“Some nurses had to be taken to hospital after being attacked by goons unleashed on them by the county government of Siaya. Using violence to disrupt the strike is unconstitutional and solves nothing,” the union said.
The officials added that unless the county addresses the nurses’ grievances, the strike will spread beyond Siaya to other counties and eventually to the national level.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 30, when nurses gathered outside Siaya County offices but were blocked from entering before being attacked.
Along with the 20 injuries reported, the union’s Siaya branch secretary, Kennedy Hamisi, said some of the nurses also lost mobile phones to the attackers.
The nurses’ strike in Siaya is now in its 19th day. Their demands include payment of delayed salaries, remittance of statutory deductions, adherence to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) circular, and implementation of a collective bargaining agreement.
“Other counties have already addressed these grievances, but Siaya has lagged behind. The governor will not escape responsibility by sending goons after our members,” the statement read.
The warning from KNUNM comes as doctors under the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) also continue their strike in Kiambu.
On Sunday, September 29, KMPDU notified 697 medical interns in the county to collect redeployment letters from the Ministry of Health, saying the four-month-long strike has left them unable to begin their programmes.