The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has issued a 7-day strike notice to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to allow nurses to join a union of their choice.

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KNUN claims that KNH Hospital Board management has refused to allow nurses in the hospital to be members of KNUN.

Nurses working at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have been protesting since Monday 29 October 2018 because of what they term as a lack of security in the health facility.

The strike was triggered by an incident where an angry patient allegedly assaulted a nurse.

KNUN has threatened to call a nationwide strike to join KNH nurses if the issue is not responded to immediately.

“The nurses of KNH shall not resume duty until the hospital management accords them recognition agreement with KNUN being their trade union of choice for representation and immediate resolution of other matters related to their welfare and security” quoted Maurice Opetu, the deputy general secretary of KNUN.

The union says that issues of insecurity, harassment and poor management at KNH are caused by lack of a strong union like KNUN.

The nurses are also demanding for immediate implementation of the return to work agreement signed on November  2, 2017, in full term, harmonisation of grading structure and completion and the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“If the government is keen on achieving the universal health care then it should take the issue of nurses seriously. The new SRC should have worked on implementing the return to work formula within one month of being in the office,” says Opetu.

Nurses are on record for holding the longest strike which went for five months in 2017.