The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has accused Siaya County Governor James Orengo of unleashing goons on striking nurses, resulting in serious injuries to over 20 health workers.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Union leadership condemned what they termed as an "illegal, unconstitutional, and brutal way" of handling the ongoing nurses' strike, which has now entered its 19th day.
"A very disturbing and becoming illegal and unconstitutional and brutal way of dealing with the nurses on strike, where the current government of Siaya unleashed goons who beat up the nurses and some sustained fractures," union officials stated.
The attack occurred on Tuesday, September 30, when medics gathered outside the Siaya county offices, where they were denied entry before being assaulted by armed individuals.
Among the injured was a female nurse who suffered a broken hand and has been treated with plaster of Paris, while others received medical attention for various injuries.
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KNUNM Siaya branch secretary Kennedy Hamisi revealed that the attackers also stole several mobile phones from the nurses during the violent confrontation.
In a scathing statement, the union directly called out Governor Orengo, a veteran human rights lawyer known for decades of fighting for Kenyan rights.
"We want to tell you governor for Siaya that you must desist from using an orthodox method, brutal and unconstitutional and barbaric method of resolving the issues that affect the nurses of Siaya current government," the union declared.
"I am so ashamed of you, Governor James Orengo. You do not represent the person we Kenyans have known over years. Money has entered in your head and now you think that you are so big to respect the rights of Kenyans because nurses are Kenyans and they have the rights to go on strike as provided for in the constitution of Kenya article 41."
The union emphasized that nurses have a constitutional right to strike under Article 41 and to hold demonstrations under Article 37, warning that the use of force would not deter them.
Several unresolved grievances, including non-remittance of statutory deductions such as bank loans, SACCO shares, insurance, pensions, and union dues have driven the strike.
Other key issues include delayed absorption of Universal Health Coverage staff, non-implementation of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission circular that would improve civil servants' salaries, and the unfulfilled return-to-work formula from 2017.
"We have persistent salary delays. Siaya is one of the counties where salaries delay up to four months, three months. Members have been reduced, workers have been reduced to beggars and this cannot be left," union representatives stated.
The union also highlighted an acute shortage of nurses in the county, which has compromised service delivery.
Warning of escalation, KNUNM threatened to expand the strike regionally and potentially nationwide if the issues remain unresolved and violence continues.
"If you continue using brutal force, we will not be cowed. We will instead go ahead and call for a regional strike and if he shall not resolve, we shall escalate the industrial action to be nationalized because what is one of us is all of us," the union declared.
The union noted that other county governments have already implemented plans to address nurses' grievances, criticizing Siaya for lagging behind while resorting to violence instead of dialogue.
