Machakos Nurses Down Tools Over Delayed Salaries

Nurses in Machakos County have officially downed their tools and threatened to vacate health facilities, citing persistent delays in salary payments.

Addressing the media at Machakos Level 5 Hospital earlier today, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Machakos Branch, led by Secretary Mr. Saka, condemned the county government for failing to pay their salaries, despite earlier communication from the County Secretary.

"We are going through a very difficult time. We haven't been paid, yet we are expected to report to work daily. We are using our personal savings to get to work, and this is no longer sustainable," said Saka.

The union leadership stated that all hospitals in Machakos have been closed, and more health centers will follow suit if the issue remains unresolved.

"If the government continues to ignore us, we will close every health center too. We can't keep being managed like this," added Saka.

Nurses expressed frustration that their colleagues in neighboring counties have already received their dues, yet Machakos continues to lag behind.

"Kitui has paid, Makueni has paid—why is it only Machakos that hasn’t? What have we done to deserve this kind of treatment?" questioned another union official.

With over 1,350 nurses affected, the union has issued a firm ultimatum to the county government.

"From now on, after every 5th day of the month, if we have not been paid, we will not report to work. Period," emphasized Saka.

Despite a prior statement from the Machakos County Secretary assuring nurses that payment was being processed, the union says no progress has been made, and they are still in the dark.

This strike is expected to paralyze health services in the county, with residents now left uncertain about access to public healthcare.