From left, Kenya Union of Nurses (Meru branch) leaders, Samuel Muchere, Bakari Mugambi and Nesbitt Mugendi, when they announced they will go on strike unless a task force to look into their grievances is constituted. [Martin Mwenda/Standard]

Members of the Kenya National Union of Nurses in Meru down tools next week over various grievances.

Branch Chairman Bakari Mugambi (pictured) and Secretary Nesbitt Mugendi, said lack of promotions, allowances and an acute shortage of nurses and other cadres, were the reason they planned to go on strike.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Mugambi said the Executive had reneged on an agreement to promote members who had stagnated in various job groups for years.

In a letter to County Health Executive Misheck Mutuma, copied to the County Secretary and Public Service board, the union is also asking that members serving in Igembe South and Imenti South be given extraneous allowances, as per agreement.

“All officers serving in the rural areas in Igembe South and Imenti North should be paid extraneous allowance and arrears backdated from July, 2015,” he said.

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But yesterday, Mr Mutuma defended the administration, saying they had resolved most of the issues and were working on others.

“There is no cause for alarm. We have implemented the issues and we are in the process of advertising 307 positions for promotion,” the minister said.