Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua addressing journalists at his office in Machakos on Monday. He issued a 24 hours ultimatum to all striking nurses to resume work, or else face the axe. [Photo/Dennis Mwikya]
Over 1000 Nurses attached to different health facilities in Machakos County risk the sack if they do not resume work by Tuesday morning, Machakos governor Dr Alfred Mutua has said.
In a press conference at his Machakos town, Mutua issued a 24 hours ultimatum for them to resume work failure to which the employer will kick off a process of issuing them termination letters.
“I urge all nurses to come back to work as we continue negotiations, please come back to work, and that is how the law says. And if you come back to work, no action will be taken against you,” he said.
He warned that his Government will immediately fire those who do not adhere to his notice.
“Those who do not resume work as per the show course letters they received, they will be dismissed as per the law,” he said.
Mutua reaffirmed that the health is a fully devolved function and all officers are fully answerable to the governors.
“The process of firing them will follow all procedures of the law,” he said.
In the mean time, the County Government has commenced a process of hiring over 700 nurses.
Governor Mutua has appealed to all willing professionals from all corners of the country to apply for the jobs.
But in a quick rejoinder, Machakos County Chapter of the Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary general Halima Aden has dismissed Governor Mutua’s ultimatum terming it as unrealistic.
“We want to tell our Governor that nurses in Machakos will not get to work until a return to work formula is signed for all nurses nationally,” said Halima.
Instead they urged Governor Mutua to take his energies to the Council of Governors and accelerate negotiations to end the four months strike.
“ We will be in court on Tuesday to get orders to stop the County Government of Machakos from hiring new nurses just as we have done to some other counties,” said Ms Halima, adding that they were ready for negotiations.