Nandi county government has started to crack the whip on 850 nurses who have been on strike for the past three months by sending them packing to pave way for new recruits to take over their roles.
County Governor Stephen Sang has consequently ordered for the hiring of nurses who were on contract basis to replace those who had deserted their duties to facilitate normal operations in public health facilities in the region.
The governor who was accompanied by his deputy Dr Yulita Mitei was speaking during the official opening of Nandi County Assembly on Tuesday. He said the disgruntled nurses had been asked to call off their strike which he termed illegal and resume duty but instead they defied the order saying his government has no option but to terminate their services.
“My government will proceed forthwith to engage the nurses on contract basis to replace those who deserted duty after our call to them to call of the strike and resume work fell on deaf ears,” said Sang.
The health workers have paralyzed key services in hospitals to protest failure by the county and national government to fully implement the collective bargaining collective agreement.
