The County Government of Trans Nzoia has reached an agreement with nurses to postpone their pending strike, providing time for the implementation of frameworks addressing their concerns as discussed with county officials.

The county government has pledged to review the organogram in collaboration with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Public Service Commission. This review aims to improve the organizational structure and support the needs of the nurses.

County KNUN Chairman Edward Cheruiyot announced that their plan to disrupt the public health sector has been put on hold following a commitment from County Secretary Truphosa Amere to implement an action plan addressing the raised issues.

Regarding the replacement of nurses, the county public service board has committed to initiating the process of filling vacant positions competitively by September to alleviate burnout among colleagues. Cheruiyot highlighted that chronic understaffing has caused significant burnout among nurses, and the union demands the implementation of a plan to hire 88 new nurses to address this shortage.

Concerning the promotion and redesignation of staff, the county secretary stated that these matters will be addressed once the administration completes the ongoing staff rationalization policy, which aims to standardize the process. The county secretary said the staff rationalization process across all departments aims to establish a more structured approach to staff roles and promotions, creating clearer career development pathways.

The nurses also urged the county government to ensure the timely stocking of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals, requesting that supplies be delivered directly to facilities via a pull system to maintain a steady supply of essential medical resources.

The renegotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to address disparities in medical coverage and to end the practice of unit transfers and favoritism used to suppress dissenting voices has also been agreed upon.

Key Points:

• Trans Nzoia County Government and nurses agree to postpone the strike, allowing time to address concerns.
• County government pledges to review the organogram with SRC and Public Service Commission to improve organizational structure.
• Commitment to competitively fill vacant nursing positions by September to reduce burnout among nurses.
• Ongoing staff rationalization policy to address promotion and redesignation issues, creating clearer career development pathways.
• Assurance of timely stocking of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals through a pull system for steady supply.
• Renegotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to address medical coverage disparities and end favoritism.

This agreement marks a significant step towards addressing the concerns of nurses in Trans Nzoia County, aiming to improve their working conditions and ensure better healthcare services for the community.