Governor Martin Wambora has appealed to Embu nurses not to join the looming nationwide strike to avert deaths and suffering in hospitals.
The governor said his administration is ready to negotiate with the nurses.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses on Friday issued a 21-day strike notice effective yesterday.
They cited failure by the government to implement the return-to-work formula in a CBA reached in November last year.
The union officials demanded an annual increase of Sh5,000 in uniform allowance effective July 2018.
They are also pushing for a Sh3,000 increase in nursing allowance in the first year and Sh3,500 in the two subsequent years as per the CBA.
But Wambora said nurses should be humane and serve residents.
He said the strike might lead to loss of lives as happened last year during the longest health workers industrial action. Wambora said counties are tired of strikes.
Last year, a deal was agreed upon by KNUN, the Council of Governors and the government, ending the over 150 days strike. The strike had started in June and ended in November.
“We don’t want to go the same route we went last year. We are tired of long strikes because we lose many lives. Let us discuss these issues. All the county and national governments are ready to talk with the union,” Wambora said.
The governor spoke at Fidesia School of Nursing in Catholic Hospital Kyieni, when he presided over their graduation ceremony. Wambora said the hospital helped save lives during last year’s long strike.
He also said his administration has enhanced nurses training in both public and private colleges to ensure residents get quality services.
Wambora said the county government has made several strides in the heath sector. The county chief said the county has 10 dialysis machines.