Kisumu Nurses Halt Protest to Support Road Crash Victims
We served the notice of strike to all the 47 county governments. About 10 counties have responded and are negotiating with our members,” Opetu stated.
The Kisumu Kakamega road accident claimed the lives of 26 people from Nyakach Subcounty and sent the region into deep mourning. Photo/ Courtesy
By Gideon Ngenoh
The Kisumu nurses’ strike has taken a humanitarian twist in its fourth day, after the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUNM) Kisumu branch shelved a scheduled street march to identify with families that have been hit by the recent horrific road crash.
Instead of marching to Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s office as initially planned, the nurses have come together and organized a blood donation campaign at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).
The objective is to assist 26 victims of the crash and honor the victims who lost their lives.
The Kisumu Kakamega road accident claimed the lives of 26 people from Nyakach Subcounty and sent the region into deep mourning.
KNUN Deputy Secretary General Maurice Opetu clarified that the action was done in a gesture of sympathy for the victims and their families.
Opetu further stated that they had planned to carry out our demonstrations today but thought it wise to stop all activities so that we could join hands with the victims.
Our nurses are donating blood to save lives and show that we are with Nyakach people in this moment of need,” he said.
Opetu also dared the county government to make use of this moment and negotiate with the union.
We would like to term the Kisumu county government as senseless to the agony of the Kisumu nurses. We served the notice of strike to all the 47 county governments. About 10 counties have responded and are negotiating with our members,” Opetu stated.
“However, it is reported that for three weeks they have never heard anyone in Kisumu ever show interest or otherwise interact with them, hence they are not interested in settling the dispute, and the nurses proceed on strike.”
This week’s initiation of the nurses’ strike is driven by grievances including the county’s failure to implement the 2024 Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) salary review structure already embraced by the national government.
The union also demands Governor Nyong’o’s administration to address some other welfare grievances outstanding.
The union had made arrangements for nurses in JOOTRH critical wards to continue providing basic treatment to accident victims, Opetu added.
He also called on social workers and psychological counsellors to offer long-term support to survivors and bereaved families as they heal.
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