Nurses demand return-to-work formula

By Isaiah Lucheli and Brian Tumwa

NAIROBI; KENYA: The Industrial court has ordered the Government to enter into a return-to-work formula with nurses following the calling off of the strike.

The court gave the directive after the unregistered Kenya National Union of Nurses officials said some of the members had been interdicted, demoted, sacked while others had been issued with transfer letters when they reported to their station.

Mr Seth Panyako an official urged the court to intervene and ensure the Government allows nurses to report back to work without being victimised.

Panyako said the court had ruled last year that the strike was legal before it overturned the ruling and directed the nurses to return to work.

Industrial Court judge Nduma Nderi directed the ministries of Public Health, Medical Services, Public Service Commission, commissioner of labour and the nurses association to agree on the modalities that would ensure the nurses return to work.

“The relevant ministries and the nurses association and the Public Service Commission should engage in a return-to-work formula and report back to court within 7 days,” said the judge.

The union officials through lawyer Maranga Maosa committed themselves in court last week to ensure all the nurses heed a court order that had termed their strike illegal and ordered them to resume work immediately. The suit will be mentioned on January 21.

Meanwhile, nurses from Kakamega Provincial General Hospital have been barred from entering the hospital premises for allegedly participating in the nurses’ strike.

The 250 nurses had returned to work following a court order on Tuesday but the medical superintendent at the hospital has denied them entry for the last three days.

Kenya National union of Nurses Executive Secretary Renson Bulunya, said the nurses were being punished for allegedly participating in the strike.

“As far as we are concerned, nurses were complying with the court order to resume work but the hospital administration has denied them keys to access the hospital wards,” said Mr Bulunya.

He said some nurses have already received transfer letters which he termed as punitive and illegal. He claimed that the hospital administration has resorted to threats and intimidation but warned that union would fight the move.

“Let them know that we are not going to be cowed into bowing down to their hostile treatment. Transferring innocent people to hardship areas like Wajir and Lodwar in such an arbitrary way is unacceptable,” said Bulunya.

The nurses have maintained that they are ready to discuss outstanding issues with the hospital administration but should not be victimised.