KNUN Calls for National Government to Take Over Health Docket
“As the national union of nurses, we stand with striking nurses in Uasin Gishu County and demand that all their issues be addressed before they resume their duties,”
The Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Seth Panyako, speaks to the media in Eldoret on Monday.
By Jessica Nyaboke
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has urged the national government to reclaim control of the health docket, citing mismanagement by county governments as the root cause of the ongoing crises in public health facilities.
Speaking in President William Ruto’s backyard of Uasin Gishu County, KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako criticized county governments for their failure to efficiently manage the health sector. “Regional governments have consistently failed to run and manage the health sector. It is high time the central government takes over public hospitals under the devolved units to save people seeking minor and critical services,” Panyako stated.
He accused regional leaders of neglecting healthcare workers, particularly nurses and paramedical staff, by failing to address their grievances. “As the national union of nurses, we stand with striking nurses in Uasin Gishu County and demand that all their issues be addressed before they resume their duties,” he said.
Escalation Threatened if Grievances Are Ignored
Panyako warned that if Uasin Gishu County fails to resolve the nurses’ grievances by January 15, the union will escalate the industrial action to include Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), a key medical facility in the region. “If by January 15, the county government of Uasin Gishu will not have addressed all the concerns of nurses, we shall escalate the industrial action to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital,” he cautioned.
Widespread Impact of Strike
The strike, which has entered its second week, has paralyzed operations in all county-run health facilities, including level three, four, and five hospitals, as well as rural dispensaries. Over 500 nurses have withdrawn their services, leaving facilities deserted and forcing patients to seek care in private hospitals or turn to herbal practitioners.
Pregnant women in need of critical care at Uasin Gishu and Huruma hospitals are among the hardest hit, with no staff available to perform necessary operations.
Nurses’ Demands
Led by Uasin Gishu KNUN Branch Secretary Kleen Kimutai, the nurses have vowed not to return to work until their demands are met. “The two levels of government should not expect us to offer quality healthcare services to the public on an empty stomach,” Kimutai said.
Their demands include promotions for nurses, the absorption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers into permanent and pensionable terms, and the payment of overdue salaries. Kimutai highlighted the plight of UHC nurses who have not been paid for the past five months despite providing critical services in rural hospitals.
“The county and national governments have taken too long to address our demands, leaving us with no option but to withdraw our services and fight for our rights,” Kimutai added.
Call for Urgent Action
The union has called on the concerned authorities to act swiftly to resolve the strike and restore services to affected facilities. “If the county governments cannot manage healthcare, it is time to revert the system to the national government to ensure proper oversight and care for patients,” Panyako concluded.
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