Striking Nurses in Kisii county forced to abandon planned demonstrations by ”Chokoras”

Striking Nurses in Kisii county were, on Monday, forced to abandon their planned demonstrations after more than 20 street children blocked the Kisii-Kisumu road. Armed with wooden clubs and stones, the street urchins warned the doctors against setting foot in Kisii town.

INSECURE

As the clashes between the nurses and the street children ensued, uniformed police officers watched on unperturbed. Fearing for their safety, the nurses walked to Kisii Police Station demanding security but were turned away on the excuse that the police officers at the station were not enough.

This came in the backdrop of a letter dated February 4, 2019, where Kisii County Government Secretary, Patrick Lumumba warned the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) members against the planned demonstrations terming it illegal.

“Any nursing personnel contemplating to participate in the illegal strike should be warned that they will be subjected to disciplinary action in case they leave their duty stations without authorization,” the letter read in part.

Last week, members of the union could not hold any demonstration in the county owing to sharp divisions between the KNUN officials and its members.

Speaking to the media, the KNUN Secretary-General in Kisii, Erick Bosire, and chairman Fredrick Oigo, stated that they had served all relevant County offices on their ongoing strike.

“Nobody wants to listen to us. We have given them enough time to put their programs in place but they seem not interested in our welfare,” Bosire commented.

Furthermore, Oigo revealed that they tried in vain to meet the area Governor James Ongwae over the stalemate.

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