Nurses holds strike in Iten. Photo/courtesy.
Medical services were paralysed after doctors, pharmacists, nurses and clinical officers started their strike in Elgeiyo Marakwet at Sunday midnight.
The health workers had issued a strike notice on November 16, accusing the county government of failing to effect promotions.
Led by their secretary Benson Biwott, the nurses have said that they will not return to work until the County government complies with their demands.
The nurses, who are members of the Kenya National Union of Nurses Elgeyo Marakwet branch, said they will not return to work until the county government hires more nurses, citing understaffing.
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The nurses said they require 101 more hires at the very least, but ideally we need 275 more people.
Biwott said, “We want to tell locals that we are not on strike because we like it, but because we are tired. The last time the county hired nurses on permanent and pensionable terms was in 2014.”
County Health CEC Michael Kibiwot said, “The county government has made efforts to ensure that the interests of the nurses have been taken care of and we urge them to return to work to prevent eventualities.”
He called on the public to bear with the county government as it negotiates a return-to-work formula with the nurses.
Efforts by CPSB chairman Michael Lelit to persuade the health workers to return to work were fruitless.
