The Kenya Union of Nurse’s secretary general Seth Panyako has said their strike is still on despite President Uhuru Kenyatta’s threat to sack and arrest nurses participating insisting that he is not afraid of threat.
On Wednesday Uhuru was addressing governors at State House, the Head of State when told health workers that they have until Friday 8AM to return to work.
He threatened that those who wouldn’t have reported by then will face dismissal by the county government and the Health ministry.
In a press briefing Panyako responded urging nurses to remain firm in their quest.
He said, “I have no mandate to respond to the President. If I do I will be overstepping my mandate. I urge our members to remain firm and fight for their rights. If there will be something otherwise we will advise them accordingly.”
Panyako said he will not respond to the President’s order because he has no power to respond on behalf of the nurses.
“When I was arrested at Kenyatta National Hospital was I throwing stones? Whoever wants to arrest me can come to my house. Many people have been arrested and disappeared and we are ready to take that route,” he said.
He said more counties will be joining the strike on Monday.
So far six counties have fully implemented the CBA.
They are Migori, Machakos, Kwale, Nairobi, Mombasa and Vihiga