Bungoma senator David Wafula Wakoli has asked the county government to solve the ongoing nurses’ strike instead of threatening to withhold their salaries or sack them.

He said the nurses’ strike, which entered its fourth week, has affected locals who largely depend on county-run hospitals for medical services. He asked area governor Kenneth Lusaka to sit down with the striking nurses and end the boycott.

“Let the governor and his administration sit down with nurses’ leadership and solve their grievances once and for all,” said Wakoli.

However, the Ford Kenya senator regretted that the county government has shown no interest in addressing the nurses’ strike. The nurses are blaming the county government for the unfulfilled collective bargaining agreement of 2022 which was the root cause of the strike.

Wakoli said nurses’ grievances were valid and yet the Lusaka administration had shown no commitment and willingness to talk to them.

“I’m appealing to the county government to sit down with nurses and talk to them under favourable conditions, away from unnecessary threats,” said Wakoli.

No talks

Speaking in Bungoma over the weekend, he said strikes are recognised in Kenyan constitution and that the county should not victimise those demanding for their rights.

The nurses under their branch boss David Wamalwa have stood their ground and maintained that they will not relent until their demands are fulfilled.

Wamalwa said they had agreed with the county government on various aspects including, promotions, increment of risk allowance, and staff hiring among others.

“Since we issued a strike notice in December last year no government official has talked to us but instead they are threatening to stop our salaries,” said Wamalwa.

He said they were ready to resume work if only the county government would listen to them. Wakoli said he was ready to mediate the stalemate between the nurses and the Lusaka government so that they could resume work.