THE Kakamega government has obtained a court order stopping the nurses’ strike planned for next Monday.
The order was issued by Justice Maureen Onyango of the Kisumu Employment and Labour Relations court on January 22.
The case will be heard tomorrow.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses issued a strike notice on January 11 and 13. Health executive Peninah Mukabane showed the order to the press yesterday.
The order restrains KNUN secretary general Seth Panyako from making unauthorised visits to health facilities during official working hours without knowledge of respective heads of the institutions.
Mukabane said the county moved to court to avoid disruption of services.
The nurses are demanding promotions and improved working conditions.
They want their colleagues working on contract hired on permanent basis.
The health workers also want redesignation of nurses and health staff in accordance to their professional qualifications.
Mukabane said any worker participating in the strike will be fired.
She said a 10-member committee is assessing the files of all medical staff lined up for promotion.
Mukabane said 181 nurses have been promoted and will earn their new salaries this month.
“Those nurses who were hired under the Economic Stimulus Programme have all been absorbed,” she said.
The county executive said those on contract have had their pay increased from Sh15,000 to Sh20,000.
