Ten striking nurses recalled to work in wake of Naivasha tragedy

Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako has recalled ten nurses back to work at the Naivahsa Level Four Hospital to assist victims of the Naivasha fire tragedy.

Addressing the press in Kakamega, Panyako said that even though medicas are currently on strike, they cannot put the lives of the public in danger.

“We cannot put the lives of the public in danger during such emergencies. Therefore, we recall ten nurses to Naivasha Level Four Hospital to immediately assist the affected victims,” he said.

Panyako, however, noted that recalling the ten did not mean that the medics’ strike has been called off.

“We still persist with our strike, and I have only recalled nurses. But the governing council is the only one that can call off the ongoing strike,” he noted.

The secretary general has however condemned government officials for giving misleading information that the strike had been called off, citing the government had no mandate to do so.

“It is only the governing council that can call off the strike. Not even Government spokesman Eric Kiraithe, who appeared before the press to give misleading information,” said Panyako.

Mr Kiraithe had in a previous press briefing said the police would provide security to nurses who would go back to work.

Report by Fidel Odhiambo. Written by Atieno Mboya