Governor Recruits 150 New Nurses As KNUNM Strike Bites, Warns Those Protesting Off Hospital Premises
Kericho County government has announced the recruitment of 150 new nurses amid a nationwide nurses’ strike.
Governor Erick Mutai said the newly recruited nurses will report from Tuesday, September 1, in an effort to restore healthcare services in the county.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 1, Mutai said the nurses have been employed on an emergency basis.
He said that it was part of measures by the county government to ensure health facilities continue providing essential services despite the ongoing industrial action by nurses.
“We have made significant progress in our efforts to ensure that service delivery resumes in our health facilities, with or without the ongoing national nurses’ strike,” Governor Mutai announced.
“We have completed the emergency recruitment of 150 nurses, who are reporting today for induction and orientation. We expect them to be deployed to our hospitals later today.”
According to the governor, outpatient services had already started improving, with the county also set to resume admission of inpatients.
This, he says, emphasises Kericho County’s commitment to ensuring residents continued accessing essential healthcare services regardless of the circumstances.
“Outpatient services are already picking up, and we shall resume the admission of inpatients from today,” he added.
“Our commitment is clear: our people must continue to receive essential healthcare services regardless of the circumstances.”
The move comes amid a nationwide nurses’ strike that has lasted for five weeks, with nurses still vowing to continue with the action.
According to the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), they will continue the nationwide nurses’ strike into its fifth week.
KNUNM insisted that the industrial action will only end after the government and the Council of Governors agree to sign and implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
At the same time, CoG chair Ahmed Abdullahi has urged striking nurses to return to work as negotiations continue over the implementation of the CBA.
ALSO READ:
- Governor Recruits 150 New Nurses As KNUNM Strike Bites, Warns Those Protesting Off Hospital Premises
- ODM’s Oburu Oginga Breaks Silence After Hospitalization Reports, Says ‘Doing Very Well’
- Relief For Passengers As Kenya Airways Offers Free Rebooking After Aviation Strike
- Ruto, Kindiki Depart To Zambia For President Hichilema’s Inauguration, Opposition Charged With Treason
- Murder Suspect On Dr Mutiso’s Death Was Also Close To Ruto’s Ally With TSC Job Scams
Abdullahi cited the council’s willingness to engage with the health providers on the issues raised.
In Kericho County, however, Governor Mutai warned politicians and protesters against staging demonstrations within or around county hospitals, saying such activities could disrupt patients receiving treatment.
He urged those planning demonstrations to exercise restraint and conduct any protests peacefully and away from patients.
The Governor maintained that hospitals should remain calm environments because noise and disruptions could affect patients and the delivery of healthcare services.
“To the political vultures who may be hovering around our hospitals today in the name of demonstrations, I urge you to exercise restraint and conduct any demonstrations peacefully and away from our patients,” Mutai said.
He further announced enhanced security measures at county hospitals to prevent unauthorised persons from accessing sensitive areas.
Governor Recruits 150 New Nurses As KNUNM Strike Bites, Warns Those Protesting Off Hospital Premises
