From left Machakos county commisioner Matilda Sakwa,health CS Cleopha Mailu
Health cabinet secretary Cleopus Mailu on Tuesday blamed Council of Governors for the looming nurse’s strike that has entered 45thday paralyzing most of the health services in the public hospitals across the country.
Mr Mailu put the record straight that the nurses were answerable to County Governors, blaming the county chiefs for laxity in the matter.
“The existing dispute between the county governments and the nurses union has to be resolved by the Council of Governors, since certain elements of the Collective bargaining could not meet approval of the salaries and remuneration Commission (SRC)” said Mailu in a press conference at Machakos town on Tuesday.
The health CS blamed the nurses for participating in an illegal strike other than giving the government a chance to implement the CBA.
“ For nurses to purport to go on strike because certain things are not fulfilled in the CBA, I think that is not acceptable, the reason why we signed a return to work formula is to enable us negotiate with them” said Mailu.
The nurses have been in an industrial action blaming the government for failure to implement the CBA, but Dr Mailu says they should have launched their complain before a court of law other than subjecting innocent Kenyans to suffering by paralyzing health operations .
“I want to urge Kenyans to be vigilant and to observe people who are demanding their lives by endangering other people’s lives , what nurses are doing is causing pain and to some extend death to Kenyans because of seeking what is not within the law,” said Mailu.
The health chief called on Kenya National Union of nurses (KNUN) to re examine their position and understand that they led their members to an illegal strike which is uncalled for.
He urged the KNUN to immediately call off the strike to provide a room for negotiations with the council of governors in a bid to end the stalemate.
He said the health function is devolved and the employer of the health workers is the county governments adding that the national government will chip in once required.
“ I want to encourage the COG to discuss and agree with the nurses since the ultimate payer is the county government,” said Mailu.
While addressing a gathering in Machakos town, Wiper Gubernatorial candidate Wavinya Ndeti called on the government to fat truck negotiations with the striking nurses to end suffering of the Kenyans.
Ms Ndeti took a swipe on the County Chiefs and the president for going deep into campaigns giving a blind eye to the nurse’s impasse.
“ I want to urge the president and all 47 governors to get back to office , their term ends after August elections, so that they can solve nurses strike and safe lives of the Kenyans,” said Ndeti.