The Kisumu County assembly has asked the governor to approve a supplementary budget to avert the looming nurses’ strike when MCAs pass it.
Acting speaker Gabriel Ochieng said he would marshal the MCAs for debate on a motion to avail funds to pay nurses who issued a strike notice last week over delayed salaries.
Meanwhile, Ochieng who is also an MCA, said they are opening talks with the nurses to have them remain at work pending approval of the additional budget.
“As the acting speaker, I am ready to marshal members of the assembly to pass crucial bills on health,” he said, urging Governor Jack Ranguma to release funds.
He spoke at during the launch of an anti-malarial campaign steered by Ecobank which was held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral hospital.
Ranguma, who graced the launch, did not comment on the topic but said the health budget for the next financial year had been increased to Sh2.3 billion.
Out of this, Sh300 million will be spent on drugs and Sh218 million used for construction and purchase of health facilities and equipment.
Ochieng said that health was a crucial sector but one in which the county has recorded dismal performance. He said the assembly was committed to steer revolution
The Kenya National Union of Nurses gave the Health ministry a 15-day ultimatum a week ago to honour an agreement to raise their pay by 40 percent and hire on permanent terms those serving on contract or face a nationwide strike.
The strike, which was initially to start on September 1, was postponed after the ministry delayed to assent to a collective bargaining agreement it signed with the nurses. The CBA has roped in county governments who are the new employers of health workers.
According to Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, the delay in signing of the CBA was to enable the county government to take a position on the agreement since health was devolved.
“Signing of such documents is not as straightforward as it used to be when the National Government employed all health workers,” he said.