SRC cites 'hidden agenda' by nurses

Section of nurses demonstrate along Mombasa streets in Mombasa on Wednesday,04th October,2017.This was during their ongoing countrywide Strike. [Maarufu Mohamed,Standard]

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has denied that it is to blame for the ongoing strike by nurses.

SRC alleged a hidden agenda in the continued paralysis in public hospitals now for four months.

The commission told a parliamentary committee that it was only a scapegoat in the strike, insisting that the demands by nurses, who have been in the streets from June, was not just about money.

The SRC vcice chairman, Daniel Ogutu, sensationally claimed that the nurses were keen on pushing for an independent commission to handle their welfare, in the same way teachers have the Teachers Service Commission.

Ogutu led the SRC team before the ad hoc committee that is considering the Supplementary Estimates in defending their request for additional funding to help the commission complete the job evaluation exercise.

Supplementary Estimates

The commission said it wanted Sh47 million, which is part of its Sh134.6 million allocation contained in the Supplementary Estimates, to pay two consultants who have been undertaking job evaluation for the disciplined service agents and staff of universities and tertiary and research institutions.

The commission explained that the consultants, Earnest & Young and PricewaterHouseCoopers, had completed their assignments and, according to the contractual obligations, have to be paid by the end of this month.

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa said he wondered why the dues had not been marked as a pending bill by the close of the financial year as it was apparent that the contract was awarded in the last year.

Ken Monyoncho from the SRC secretariat explained that the initial contract for another consultant who had been given the work was cancelled after he performed below expectations.