Nurses have been told to return to work in seven days or risk being sacked Photo/Al Jazeera

Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa

The Government of Kenya has issued a directive to nurses pending their ongoing strike.

Nurses have been told to return to work by September 8 or risk being sacked.

On Thursday, the government stated that counties will look for new personnel should the nurses refuse to adhere to the directive.

The Council of Governors (CoG) also ordered for nurses not to receive any salaries.

According to reports, over 25,000 nurses have been on strike for the past three months over an increase in salaries and an improvement in working conditions.

CoG chair Josphat Nanok (Turkana) chastised the nurses for complicating negotiations.

"As a matter of fact, the nurses strike is illegal since they went on strike while the negotiations on their CBA were taking place. This is an act of bad faith," Nanok said adding those who heed the return-to-work call will not be victimized. Salary payment and negotiations of the CBA will be honored only if the nurses return to work," Nanok said as quoted by The Star.