Homa Bay nurses leaders Emmadick Okeyo and Brenda Peterson speak to the press in Homa Bay town on July 17, 2025 /ROBERT OMOLLONurses in Homa Bay have issued a seven-day strike notice to the county government over what they termed "unresolved issues".
Through the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), the health workers said they will not be on duty from Wednesday next week if their grievances are not addressed.
Homa Bay KNUNM secretary Emmadick Okeyo and union deputy chairperson Brenda Peterson accused the county government of failing to honour a return-to-work agreement, which they signed in February.
Some of the issues health workers wanted addressed included promotion and timely remittance of statutory deductions.
Okeyo said at least 386 nurses expected to be promoted by March this year.
However, after they signed the agreement, none has been promoted.
Okeyo said members of the union whose contracts with the county government have come to an end, should also get gratuity.
“Those affected had their August and September 2022 salaries not paid. The county government has not paid for the last three years now,” Okeyo said.
Speaking to journalists in Homa Bay town on Thursday, the nurses’ officials also decried the delayed remittance of statutory deductions.
The deductions include loans, insurance premiums, union dues and Social Health Authority contributions.
Okeyo said nurses have not paid for SHA for the past two months.
“National Treasury announced that it does not owe any funds to county governments. It is not practical for us to be told that the Homa Bay government can’t pay workers on grounds of shortage of funds,” he said.
Okeyo said delays in remitting statutory deductions lead to penalties at different institutions.
“We will down our tools next week Wednesday. Services will be affected in all public health facilities, including dispensaries,” he said.
Peterson said nurses have been patient for so long. She said nurses have always been working with no one recognising their efforts.
“We will do what we are known to do best when aggrieved. We will down our tools until our demands are met,” the unionist said.
Medical health chief officer Kevin Osuri said they have received the notice and are working on the issue.
“We’re holding a meeting with the union leadership to address the problem,” he said.
