Nurses union boss Seth Panyako arrested as KNH workers strike

Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako has been arrested over claims of inciting health workers at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to go on strike.

Panyako was arrested on Monday morning at KNH where he was set to address union members in the wake of a strike triggered by an incident where a nurse was allegedly assaulted by an angry patient.

The doctors and nurses at the referral hospital had downed their tools to protest what they termed as their insecurity.

Panyako was arrested alongside other officials accused of instigating the protests that paralysed services at the health facility.

Two weeks ago, a nurse at the facility was allegedly attacked by a mother of a 17-year-old boy who died at the hospital.

KNUN union officials led demonstrations at the facility blaming security guards for the incident.

“Nurses have already withdrawn their services on grounds of security challenges at the hospital,” said Panyako.

The officials have vowed to continue with the demonstrations until they are assured of security at the facility.