Union Declares Siaya Unsafe for Nurses, Strike Looms
Siaya KNUN branch secretary Kennedy Hamisi opened the magnitude of injuries sustained. He confirmed that over 20 nurses were injured during the attack
KNUN Deputy Secretary General Maurice Opetu condemned the attack, terming it as a clear demonstration that Siaya County is no longer a safe environment for health practitioners to work. Photo/ Courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) raised an alarm about the safety of its members in Siaya County after a fierce attack that injured several members of medical staff. The union threatened to stage a countrywide strike if the perpetrators of the attack were not dealt with forcefully.
The standoff occurred on Tuesday at the headquarters of Siaya County government when the nurses had gathered for a peaceful demonstration. Witnesses confirm that the health workers were met by an army of hired thugs who destroyed the demonstration and attacked the demonstrators. The nurses were demonstrating for better working conditions when the violence erupted.
KNUN Deputy Secretary General Maurice Opetu condemned the attack, terming it as a clear demonstration that Siaya County is no longer a safe environment for health practitioners to work. He faulted county leaders for failing to safeguard frontline workers, and he demanded that Governor James Orengo apologize publicly to the nursing fraternity.
During a solidarity rally addressing nurses and sympathizers, Opetu urged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to oversee the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. He also directed nurses to stay away from all county government offices until their security can be guaranteed. “We have decided to resuspend the strike. Nurses will not enter any county offices until the governor apologizes and justice is done,” he said.
The union was also represented by Collins Otieno Ajwang’, President of the National Nurses Association of Kenya, who was equally outraged by the issue. Ajwang’ went as far as declaring the county government offices to be a crime scene and calling for the authorities to be held responsible. He argued that such brutality towards healthcare practitioners could not be condoned, considering the fact that nurses are still at the center of Kenya’s healthcare system.
KNUN National Trustee, Henry Adolwa, additionally declared that the union would not shy away from raising the matter. He threatened that unless quick and decisive action was taken against the culprits, KNUN would be left with no alternative but to demand a countrywide strike in solidarity with fellow nurses in Siaya. “Our nurses were attacked by people who were clearly hired to harm them. We can’t remain quiet.”. Unless action is taken, we will be with Siaya nurses for a nationwide strike,” he warned.
Siaya KNUN branch secretary Kennedy Hamisi opened the magnitude of injuries sustained. He confirmed that over 20 nurses were injured during the attack, where two were hospitalized. The others were given first aid and later discharged.
The incident has heightened tensions in the county and beyond as health workers await the national government and police to intervene. For others, the attack serves to highlight the added risk nurses put themselves in as they fight for their rights, and what is happening could well determine if labor instability spreads across the nation in the coming days.
About Author
