COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has faulted Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya for ordering nurses to go back to work.
Atwoli argued that Oparanya should have consulted him on the workers’ issues instead of displaying ignorance on national television.
He argued that the Council of Governors signed Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with the nurses and they need to honour the same.
“If you realise that you do not have money and you owe someone, just go back to them and explain to the modalities of payment even if it means paying in instalments,” he said.
Atwoli further blamed Oparanya and Labour CS Ukur Yattani for misleading President Uhuru Kenyatta to believe that the nurses’ strike was illegal.
“They left Uhuru to read a speech on petty issues,” he said.
Atwoli said the President meant well for the country and should not be made to carry out tasks meant for shop stewards.
Early last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the nurses to resume duty by February 15, warning that those who failed to do so risked being sacked.
A number of nurses from various counties have however defied the presidential order to return to work leaving patients in public health facilities to suffer.
A meeting planned by Busia County government scheduled for Saturday morning aborted when the nurses’ union officials failed to turn up.
The union officials issued the county government with a strike notice to commence on Monday, February 18.