Nurses demand action on wage delays, call for accountability
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) highlights the persistent issue of delayed payments for nurses working in both public and private hospitals.
Nurses in Kenya are calling on the government to address ongoing delays in their wages and unfair working conditions that have severely affected their morale and the quality of healthcare delivery.
In a petition submitted to the Senate, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) highlights the persistent issue of delayed payments for nurses working in both public and private hospitals.
The union is also raising concerns about the lack of proper protective gear, insufficient staff numbers, and poor working environments, which have made it harder for nurses to provide effective care.
KNUN Secretary-General Seth Panyako and National Chairman Alfred Obenga emphasized that the delays in wages, sometimes lasting months, have created financial hardships for nurses, many of whom rely on their salaries to support their families.
They also argue that the lack of protective equipment has put healthcare workers at greater risk, especially as the country continues to face health challenges such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"Many nurses are unable to meet their basic needs due to delayed payments, which is both demoralizing and unsustainable," reads part of the petition.
"The government has failed to address the basic needs of healthcare workers, and this is compromising the quality of care in our hospitals."
The petitioners are urging Parliament to investigate the causes of the wage delays and to compel the Ministry of Health to implement measures to improve working conditions, including providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for all healthcare workers.
The union also called for an immediate audit of payments to ensure timely compensation for all nurses.
"We cannot continue to work in such conditions where our rights are ignored, and our contributions to healthcare are undervalued," the petition further states.
"Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, and it's time the government acknowledges that."
The union also appealed to the government to address the issue of understaffing, which has led to burnout and an increased workload for the nursing staff, negatively impacting patient care.
