Nurses employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme are appealing to Coast Governors to push for their absorption into Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) terms.
The nurses from Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River, and Taita Taveta counties downed their tools three weeks ago calling for payment of accrued salaries and benefits owed to them for the past three years.
Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Mombasa Chapter Chairman Peter Maroko said during a protest at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital that they have been on the frontline of the county’s medical system, yet their employment remains uncertain.
Most of the UHC nurses are on short-term contracts with no job security or retirement benefits, making their future uncertain.
They are calling upon the governors, the Ministry of Health, the Public Service Commission, and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to ensure the nurses are on PnP and their gratuity is paid in full before they resume work.
With the protests continuing, public hospitals are already feeling the impact, with reports of service delays and overwhelmed medical staff.
Pregnant women are now delivering at home which is so risky for them with nurses stating they are willing to resume work immediately once the government fulfils its commitments.
They said they are disadvantaged as they cannot apply for loans from commercial banks and further their studies as they are not on PnP.
“This is a form of slavery the government is engaging in; you cannot employ people and keep renewing contracts instead of employing them on PnP. That is laughable for any government that intends to achieve UHC with contracted staff,” decried Maroko.
The protesters were carrying placards and chanting slogans, insisting that they would continue with their strike until their demands were met. Some of their banners read: “Fair Pay for Fair Work!”, “No More Empty Promises!”, and “Absorb UHC Nurses Now!”
“We have served the public with dedication, ensuring patients receive quality healthcare services. But the government has failed to honour its commitment to us,” said KNUN Coast Chapter Secretary General Benclif Angala.
“We only ask for fair treatment, just like our colleagues who enjoy permanent and pensionable terms,” he added.
By Mgeni Kujeza
