The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has called on the county governments to implement the 8 percent salary increments for nurses.
Speaking in Busia County during the launch of International Nurses Week at Busia Agricultural Training Centre on Friday, the Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Maurice Opetu accused the county governments for failing to increase the nurses’ salaries.
“SRC proposed an 8 percent salary increment to the nurses during a salary review but the county governments have intentionally refused to implement and pay the nurses their salary. That 8 percent increment on basic salary is for all the workers who work at the county and national government and is not for the leaders. We are telling them that this increment must be implemented and paid in full with arrears to the nurses,” he said.
Opetu called for equal contractual terms for all nurses stating that the terms should not vary from one nurse to another.
“We condemn exploitative contracts. When you are engaging us on contracts, let the terms and conditions be like of any other regular nurse. The only difference should be the period of engagement which can be reviewed as you process absorption into permanent and pensionable basis,” he said.
He requested Busia county government to ensure it engages the nurses to resolve the strike notice that has been issued and come up with solutions for better service to the people.
“The Nurses’ Union in Busia has issued a strike notice, but I want to urge the county government to engage and look at the welfare of these nurses because they are working under difficult conditions with understaffing. Look at the issues that have been raised and enhance resolutions,” he appealed.
The official added that the union might call for action if the policies that are in existence are not reviewed as they do not promote equity.
“There are a lot of punitive and discriminatory policies that have been passed and pushed to us. Nurses working at the national government earn different from that of county government, why does this happen? Some of the job groups don’t exist in the national government but are in the county government. We want a change in these policies before we take action as a union,” he said.
The Kenya Progressive Nurses Association (KPNA) chairman Michael Nyongesa lauded Busia County for promotion of the nurses.
“In terms of promotion, Busia County is doing well as 98 percent of nurses have been promoted. We are still looking out for the promotion of the remaining 2 percent. We are ready to partner with the county government to help in supporting these nurses because they play big role in our life,” he said
Nyongesa urged the government to invest more in nurses stating that this would help to better the health services in the country.
“Nurses are at every service delivery point. Investing in them, means the increase in service deliveries. Equipping them means an increase in health care which will even transform the health services in rural areas,” he said.
Busia Deputy Governor who is also the CECM for Health Arthur Odera said the county government has trained its nurses on handling the emergency issues in the county.
“Over the last 2 years, we have focused much on training our healthcare workers in emergency care and on handling the patients who are disabled, deaf or blind. My urge to the nurses is that let us take advantage of this training so that we can be well equipped,” he said.
Odera added that they have given the nurses an opportunity to lead health services at the sub county level adding that they would only promote those who were performers.
“We have 4 nurses leading our 4 sub counties out of 8 as Sub- County Medical Health Officer out of which 3 are women because we have realized the importance of the nurses in the leadership position. We want performance and delivery of services. We are willing to promote anybody who demonstrates the ability to lead and nurture the rest of the staff,” he added.
The 2025 International Nurses Week’s theme is “Our nurses, our future: caring for nurses strengthens economies,” and it will have its climax being held on May 16, 2025 in Migori county.
