MARALAL, SAMBURU — Health services in Samburu County have been disrupted following a nurses’ strike over delays in signing the Collective Bargaining Agreement-CBA.
Nurses under the Kenya National Union of Nurses, Samburu Branch, staged demonstrations in Maralal town on Tuesday.
They want the county government to fast-track the signing of the CBA and forward it to the Council of Governors before the Salaries and Remuneration Commission implements it.
Led by KNUN Samburu Secretary Halima Letoluai, the nurses said the CBA process has dragged on without satisfactory feedback, forcing them to take to the streets.
Letoluai also cited insecurity in the line of duty. She said a nurse was killed two weeks ago in Naimaral, Samburu North, highlighting the risks health workers face.
Samburu CEC for Public Health and Sanitation, Dr. Nassir Amiyo Lekudere, said the county had reached an agreement to ensure emergency services continue during the strike.
“Under the Constitution, patients have a right to healthcare. Measures have been put in place to ensure emergency cases are attended to,” he said.
Dr. Lekudere added that laboratory officers, doctors and clinical officers are still offering services at health facilities.
However, he noted that due to the large number of nurses and their role in service delivery, specialized hospital services will be heavily affected.
The striking nurses have vowed to continue with the industrial action until the county government gives a firm commitment on CBA implementation.
