| Written by Monica Makali |
The nurses’ strike in Machakos County has been called off following an agreement between the county government and the local branch of the nurses’ union.
Both parties have announced that they have reached a consensus on seven key issues that had led to the strike, which lasted for two weeks and disrupted healthcare services in the county.
Speaking during a joint meeting with union officials, Machakos County Secretary Dr. Muya Ndambuki stated that they had agreed to suspend the strike and address the nurses’ demands including promotions and payment of outstanding dues.
During the same meeting, the Chairperson of the Machakos branch of the nurses’ union, Michael Saka, confirmed that their demands , including promotions, salary increments, payment of arrears, and loan clearances had been met. He added that nurses are expected to return to work starting tomorrow.
Among the key takeaways:
All outstanding loans for affected staff will be cleared by 30th September.
A Nursing Service Allowance of 10,000 shillings per month will be implemented.
The Uniform Allowance will be increased significantly , from 10,000 to 25,000 shillings.
A promotions committee will be formed within two weeks to identify nurses eligible for elevation.
The Risk Allowance will also rise , from the current 3,850 to 5,000 shillings.
Most notably, the long-awaited Collective Bargaining Agreement is now set to be signed by 30th September.
The county also confirmed that all show cause letters previously issued to striking workers are now null and void.
Additionally, Machakos County Government has reaffirmed its commitment to continue with the recruitment of 500 new nurses to ease the delivery of healthcare services in the county.
The strike had lasted for over two weeks, severely affecting healthcare services across Machakos County.
