Nurses have signed a return-to-work formula with the Ministry of Health, signalling a new beginning in their dealings.
Public Health PS Mary Muthoni and her counterpart in Medical Services, Harry Kimtai, speaking during the signing ceremony on Tuesday said the government would remain committed to upholding their end of the deal in implementing the CBA.
According to the Kenya Union of Nurses secretary general Seth Panyako, some of the quick wins for nurses include risk allowance, uniform allowance, nurses service allowance.
“Nurses have waited for this CBA for more than 10 years. We have agreed more than four times and it is changed but at long last, we have a CBA that will serve as a foundation for future engagements,” Panyako said.
He added that nurses do not want to engage in industrial action saying the results of a strike is loss of human life.
“In this CBA, we have risk allowance, uniform allowance has been enhanced by Sh5,000 and we expect it to go up to Sh25,000 in subsequent CBAs,” he said.
Kimtai assured the union that the government will endeavour to deliver its end of the bargain.
“My request to the union is to urge their members to continue dedicating themselves to delivery of services at this critical juncture where we are implementing Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
He called on all health workers to collaborate and work closely with government.
Muthoni said the government is delighted with the achievement so far.
Nurses had in mid July threatened to down their tools to push for the implementation of the CBA and extension of UHC staff contracts for two years.
The strike threat had caused anxiety over a looming crisis in the healthcare sector considering doctors were on strike at that time.
