Relief for residents as Taita Taveta Nurse’s strike is called off

Nurses in Taita Taveta County have called off their strike after successful negotiations with the County government and the County executive member for Health Hon. Gifton Mkaya.

Nurses in Taita Taveta County have called off their strike after successful negotiations with the County government, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Branch Chairlady Halima Hassan has confirmed.

Hassan said the nurses had suffered greatly because of miscommunication between government officials and the County government officials, adding that since an agreement had been reached all parties should honor the deal.

KNUN Taita Taveta County branch secretary Doctor Boniface Mrashui had downed their tools over unpaid allowances amounting to more than Ksh.8 million, lack of promotions, being overworked, and lack of equipment at the health facilities among other issues.

Governor John Mruttu  has, however, promised that communication between the county government and the Nurses’ union will be improved at the County level, adding that there will be frequent meetings between them to make sure that their welfare was well taken care of.

When the Kenya National Union of Nurses called off the national nurses’ strike on 13th December last year, nurses in Taita Taveta County did not return to their work stations.

Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi and other public health facilities in the County remained closed, forcing residents to seek assistance from private clinics outlets.