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Tag: Seth Panyako

  • Kenya Nurses insist planned strike is still on

    Kenya Nurses insist planned strike is still on

    The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has maintained that its planned nationwide strike, set to begin on July 7th, 2025, is still on.

    Union Secretary General Seth Panyako has mobilised members of the National Advisory Council to meet next Friday to ratify the strike notice issued earlier this month to both the county and national governments, citing unresolved grievances.

    The union expressed regret that the government has yet to address the nine critical issues outlined in the 26-day notice.

    According to the union, nurses have continued to work under precarious conditions, which has created disparities in employment and insecurity with the public health system.

    Among the listed demands is the conversion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses to permanent and pensionable.

    In the letter, the union requests all Nursing Officers in charge to grant healthcare workers three days off duty from June 26th to 28th, 2025, to enable them to attend the special meeting scheduled for next Friday.

    “We have invited the National Advisory Council to a meeting to ratify the Nationwide Strike Notice, which is set to commence on 7th July, 2025. The Members of the Union are hereby requested to continue mobilising in order to ensure 100 per cent participation in the Strike”, Panyako said.

    The union has also cited failure to implement the Return to Work Formula agreed upon on November 2, 2017, and accused county governments of neglecting to finalise Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).

    Additionally, the union is demanding preauthorization for nurse anaesthetists and empanelment of nursing health facilities by the Nursing Council of Kenya.

    The union further cited failure by the government to remit third-party deductions also remains unresolved.

    The Nine Demands

    1. Failure to Convert UHC Nurses to Permanent and Pensionable Terms Nurses employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program
    2. Failure to Implement the New SRC Salary Structure for 2024 contained in SRC circular
    3. Failure to implement Return to Work Formula of 2nd November,2017.
    4. Failure by the County Government to negotiate and conclude CBAs
    5. Illegal deduction of Agency Fee by Kenyatta National Hospital.
    6. Failure by the Ministry of Health to transfer budget and grants to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.
    7. Failure to address acute nurse shortage in the public health facilities.
    8. Preauthorization of reuse anesthetists and empanelment of nursing health facilities registered by the Nursing Council of Kenya.
    9. Failure to remit 3rd party deductions.

     

     

     

     

  • Nurses issue 26-day strike notice over unresolved grievances

    Nurses issue 26-day strike notice over unresolved grievances

    Healthcare services across the country face potential disruption after the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) issued a 26-day strike notice to both the national and county governments demanding urgent resolution of longstanding grievances.

    Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday, KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako said nurses country will down their tools on July 7 to push for employment of UHC staff on Permanent and Pensionable terms.

    He noted that several of the union’s grievances have remained unresolved for over seven years despite repeated appeals for dialogue and action.

    According to the union, nurses have continued to work under precarious conditions, which has created disparities in employment and insecurity within the public health system.

    Panyako also faulted county governments for failing to implement the new 2024 salary structure proposed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

    He added that the revised structure is outlined in an SRC circular dated September 12, 2024, and was meant to take effect from July 1, 2024.

    The union also wants the government to honor the Return-to-Work Formula agreed upon on November 2, 2017.

    KNUN further accused counties of failing to negotiate and finalise collective bargaining agreements, despite multiple attempts by the union to engage in dialogue.

    Pamyako also raised concerns over what he termed as the illegal deduction of agency fees by Kenyatta National Hospital.

    He criticised for failing to transfer the necessary budgets and grants to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, a delay that the he argues has negatively impacted operations at the facility.

    Other grievances include the continued shortage of nurses in public hospitals, which the union claims has overburdened the existing workforce and compromised service delivery.

    KNUN is also demanding the preauthorization of nurse anesthetists and the recognition of nursing health facilities registered by the Nursing Council of Kenya.

    Further, the union cited failure by various government entities to remit third-party deductions, a move they say amounts to financial misconduct.

    Panyako insisted that while the union is prepared to engage in discussions with the government, their patience is wearing thin.