Nurses Not at Work at 8am Friday to be Sacked, Gov't Declares

The government has maintained that striking nurses who fail to return to work on Friday will be sacked.

Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki says that disciplinary action will also be taken against health workers who will defy President Kenyatta's return to work order.

The government says a count would be done countrywide on Friday to identify nurses who will not have reported to work as directed by the President.

“The National and County Governments stand with the President’s pronouncement. A roll call will be undertaken by both levels of Government tomorrow, Friday 15, 2019 at 8 am and nurses who will fail to return to work will be dismissed and further necessary disciplinary action will be undertaken in accordance with the law, ” reads a statement released by CS Kariuki.

On Wednesday, President Uhuru said the strike is unlawful and ordered the health workers to resume work, failure to which they will be shown the door.

“It is disheartening to learn that some of our nurses have decided to engage in an unlawful withdrawal of their labor to Kenyans against the determination of the Employment and Labor Relations Court which suspended any industrial action for 60 days,” said Kenyatta.

“As the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces, I have instructed National Police Service to take stern action on picketers who may intimidate public servants who intend to go to work."

However, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) through its Secretary-General Seth Panyako has urged the health workers to stay put until their grievances are addressed.