KNUN national chairman John Bii at a past press briefing in Eldoret. [Photo: Joe Khisa]
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) national chairman John Bii has welcomed the end to the nurses' strike that lasted 151 days.
Bii, who was opposed to the strike from the beginning, however, pocked holes to the deal that was signed on Thursday by nurses Union officials, the council of governors and the ministry of health.
Speaking in Eldoret on Friday, Bii expressed concerns that the agreement was reached without the input of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
"I fully support the end to the strike but that does not mean that I agree with the contents of the return to work agreement," Bii said.
"You can imagine five months down the line and all the nurses get is a return to work formula that will be implemented next year something we are not sure if it will be honored. We have not been told whether SRC was involved. What happens when SRC rejects the agreement?" he added.
In the agreement, the three parties (The Nurses Union, CoG, and Ministry of Health) agreed to have the nurses’ uniform and the risk allowances paid in the next financial year.
Nurses will receive an initial uniform allowance of sh15,000, which will be increased by Sh5,000 each financial year.
They will also start receiving a risk allowance of between sh20,000 and sh25,000, depending on job group, in the next financial year.