Court Halts Nurses’ Strike as MTRH CEO Fires Back at Union Claims
Dr. Kirwa emphasized that MTRH had sought court intervention after negotiations with KNUN failed.
Dr. Philip Kirwa, CEO of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH)
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) CEO Dr. Phillip Kirwa has addressed concerns raised by the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) after an Eldoret court suspended the nurses’ strike that had begun two days ago, terming it unlawful.
The three-day industrial action, which began on Wednesday, was halted after the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Eldoret issued an order restraining the union from mobilizing its members to withdraw their services. The court scheduled an inter partes hearing for April 2, 2025, to deliberate on the matter.
Speaking at a press briefing shortly after the ruling, Dr. Kirwa responded to grievances raised by KNUN, which included medical cover, promotions, salary adjustments, staff shortages, allegations of harassment, and discrimination at the hospital’s private wing.
Medical Cover Concerns
KNUN had accused MTRH of failing to provide adequate medical cover for nurses. However, Dr. Kirwa refuted the claims, stating that MTRH offers the highest attainable medical care for its employees and their dependents through the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme and an additional private secondary cover, which was implemented two months ago.
“Being a Level Six facility, all employees, their families, and dependents receive treatment at MTRH’s private wing and other accredited hospitals outside Eldoret,” Dr. Kirwa stated.
He noted that some union members may have preferred larger private hospitals, but emphasized that such an arrangement was financially unsustainable for MTRH.
Promotions and Salary Adjustments
Another issue raised by the union was stagnation and delayed promotions. In response, Dr. Kirwa assured that promotions at MTRH have been conducted on time for the last 12 years, particularly in July. However, he acknowledged a slight delay due to cash flow constraints but confirmed that all staff due for promotions will be promoted, with benefits backdated.
On salary adjustments, the union referenced a 2020 Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) evaluation, which recommended pay increments that were yet to be implemented. Dr. Kirwa confirmed that MTRH had held internal discussions on structuring the implementation but remained open to further dialogue with stakeholders.
Staff Shortages and Resignations
KNUN also raised concerns over staff shortages, which they say have led to burnout among nurses. Dr. Kirwa acknowledged that constant resignations by nurses seeking greener pastures had strained staffing levels.
“In 2024, we recruited 100 nurses, and this month, we will hire 30 more nurses after board approval to mitigate the shortages,” he stated.
Dr. Kirwa further disclosed that MTRH had 850 nurses one year ago and had since hired 165 additional nurses, but more were still needed to meet the facility’s increasing demands.
Harassment and Discrimination Allegations
On claims of workplace harassment, Dr. Kirwa affirmed that MTRH is a harassment-free zone, urging nurses with concerns to report any incidents for immediate action.
“MTRH strongly condemns any form of harassment. If any staff member experiences mistreatment, they should report it, and the necessary disciplinary action will be taken,” he assured.
The union also alleged discrimination against nurses working in the hospital’s private wing. However, Dr. Kirwa dismissed the claims, clarifying that nurses at the private wing are rotated every three years based on performance and can serve for a maximum of six years (two terms).
Budget Cuts and Impact on Hospital Operations
Dr. Kirwa also confirmed that MTRH had been affected by a Ksh 2.3 billion budget cut, which had impacted some operations. However, he noted that the government had pledged to release Ksh 1 billion in the supplementary budget to address financial constraints.
Despite these challenges, he assured the public that emergency services and other critical operations at the hospital had continued uninterrupted throughout the strike period.
Court Ruling and Way Forward
Dr. Kirwa emphasized that MTRH had sought court intervention after negotiations with KNUN failed. With the matter now set for hearing on April 2, 2025, he urged all parties to engage in constructive dialogue rather than resorting to industrial action.
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