Kenyan Healthcare Workers Issue 14-Day Strike Notice Amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Kenyan nurses and other healthcare workers have issued a 14-day strike notice demanding Covid-19 protection equipment and harmonization of risk allowances.

Addressing reporters on Monday, May 4th, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) secretary-general Seth Panyako said nurses will down their tools on May 18th if their demands are not met.

Panyako accused the government of provoking healthcare workers, adding that nurses will not report to work if they are not provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 

“Contrary to what other countries are doing, the Ministry of Health has put all its energy to provoking frontline health workers to abandon their duties the way the Zimbabwe Government did,” said Panyako.

“We want to beseech the President, His Excellency, we support you…we support your commitment to fighting COVID-19 but we want to tell you that the provocation has been occasioned by the Ministry of Health,” he added.

In addition, Panyako wants the government to harmonize risk allowances given to health workers to Sh30,000 across all cadres. He said some workers presently receive Sh20,000 while others get as little as Sh3,000.

The Kenya Union of Clinical Workers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers, and Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists have also threatened to join the strike if the government fails to heed to their calls.

“We reiterate our goodwill to support the government during this period…and once more appeal to the government to address the issues within 14 days from today failure to which the unions will commence a nationwide strike,” said Kenya Health Professional Society (KHPS) chair Mohammed Duba.