More than 700 nurses in Kilifi county have called off their strike after reaching a consensus with Governor Gideon Mung’aro.
The long-standing issues to be addressed include; delayed promotions, unpaid arrears and stalled recognition of nurses who pursued specialised training.
The decision to suspend the strike follows a high-level meeting convened by Mung’aro at the county headquarters.
The governor met with representatives of the Kenya National Union of Nurses, led by Kilifi county chairman Suleiman Kahindi and other health partners to find a lasting solution to the dispute that had paralysed healthcare services across the county.
He said the nurses' key concerns were finally acknowledged and are on track for resolution.
“Among the issues we raised were delayed promotions, payment of arrears and the recognition of nurses who went for specialised training. The governor said all deserving nurses will be promoted, arrears settled and specialised cadres placed in their rightful positions,” Kahindi said.
The union boss urged all striking nurses to resume work immediately, saying they will closely monitor implementation of agreed-upon actions.
"We believe the county government has shown goodwill and commitment. The strike has officially come to an end,” Kahindi said.
Mung’aro, who was accompanied by his deputy Flora Chibule, health executive Peter Mwarogo and other top county officials, said a special committee has been formed to oversee implementation of the agreed changes.
“We held a very productive and honest discussion with the nurses’ leadership. We now have a committee in place that will meet with me every two weeks to give progress reports on the issues raised,” he said.
“We want to ensure these grievances, some of which date back to 2014, are fully addressed within our administration’s tenure.”
The governor acknowledged the depth of problems that have plagued Kilifi’s healthcare workforce and promised structured engagement going forward.
“I cannot promise that everything will be resolved in a day, but like we did with doctors earlier this year, we will keep talking and addressing each issue one step at a time. We are committed to creating a county with a healthy population and that starts by taking care of our health workers," Mung'aro said.
The newly formed committee will include representatives from the department of health, Knun and other partners.
Its mandate is to develop clear timelines and mechanisms to implement promotions, process outstanding payments and reclassify nurses based on their qualifications and experience.
Instant analysis
The resolution of the nurses' strike in Kilifi is significant as it underscores the essential role of healthcare workers and the importance of responsive governance. Delayed promotions, unpaid arrears, and unrecognized qualifications can severely affect morale and service delivery.
