Nurses in Kisumu County have continued their strike for a second day, demanding better working conditions from the county government. The strike, led by the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), has brought operations in several public hospitals to a standstill as healthcare workers protest unmet demands. The nurses claim that the county government has ignored their requests despite their union presenting formal demands for improvement in their work environment and welfare.
Maurice Opetu, KNUN’s Deputy National Secretary, stated that the union was left with no choice but to down tools, emphasizing that the county government had failed to ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that had already been approved by the national government. According to Opetu, the failure to adopt the CBA has left nurses in Kisumu struggling to meet their basic needs, with many experiencing difficult financial conditions. Opetu also highlighted the shortage of nurses in the county, urging the county government to accelerate the recruitment process to address the staffing gaps.
Andrew Omolo, KNUN’s Kisumu branch secretary, echoed Opetu’s sentiments, adding that nurses will not resume work until their demands are fully addressed. The union insists that they are not only fighting for better pay but also for a more supportive working environment, where their rights are respected.
The ongoing strike has drawn attention to the broader issue of inadequate resources and support for healthcare workers in Kisumu, with many nurses leaving their jobs due to poor working conditions. The county’s failure to ratify the CBA is seen as a major contributing factor to the growing discontent among healthcare professionals.
The strike follows a similar action in neighboring Homa Bay County, where over 800 nurses have also downed tools, citing the county government’s failure to implement the CBA. Both strikes have severely affected medical services, leaving thousands without essential healthcare.
As the strike continues, pressure mounts on the Kisumu County government to resolve the issue and ensure that nurses return to work to provide much-needed services to the community.
