The ongoing nurses’ strike, now in its fourth week, has disrupted health services in the public facilities, which most citizens rely on for medical care. This has left especially mothers and their babies at grave risk.
Many county hospitals and dispensaries have halted new admissions, forcing desperate patients to seek costly alternatives in private or mission facilities.
Union leaders say little progress has been made in addressing their demands, but they are not ready to call off the boycott.
Sadly, the striking health workers have also defied court orders to resume duty.
A stalemate over career progression guidelines remains, with the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives pressing for an agreement. The other sticking point is the delayed absorption on permanent and pensionable terms of the universal health coverage (UHC) staff.
The union has welcomed President William Ruto’s pledge on the employment of UHC staff. At last week’s Health Summit in Nairobi, he promised to help determine their fate.
Health is a devolved function, and therefore, the counties should be involved through the Council of Governors (CoG).
The union has also accused the government of dragging its feet on the implementation of the 2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The nurses are also demanding better pay and allowances.