Nurses are set to receive their highest salaries ever if the government implements the recently ratified collective bargaining agreement.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and the government finalized this agreement on Tuesday.
Nursing officials have indicated that nurses will benefit from increased allowances exceeding Ksh 50,000 monthly, which encompasses both newly enhanced and existing allowances.
Nevertheless, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission must still approve the agreement, and adjustments to certain figures may occur.
Once approved, the collective bargaining agreement will be submitted to the court, rendering it legally binding.
Joseph Ngwasi, the chairman of Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), praised the agreement, highlighting that it also stipulates future improvements to these allowances.
Seth Panyako, the secretary general of KNUN, expressed cautious optimism regarding the new agreement.
“We have made significant progress, which will serve as a foundation for our achievements,” he stated.
Panyako noted that a key aspect of the agreement is the government’s commitment made in 2017 to enhance the uniform allowance, nursing service allowance, and risk allowance.
Under the new terms, nurses will see an increase of Ksh 5,000 in both their risk and uniform allowances, with further increases anticipated in future agreements.
“We expect to reach Ksh 25,000 in subsequent agreements for the uniform allowance and Ksh 30,000 for the nursing service allowance,” he added.
Panyako also acknowledged Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for being the only public institution to fully implement the 2017 return-to-work formula.
He recognized the lengthy and often challenging journey to reach this agreement.
“It is true that nurses have awaited this collective bargaining agreement for over a decade. We have reached agreements multiple times, only for them to change. However, we now have a collective agreement that will serve as a basis for future discussions,” he remarked.
In May, nurses refused to join the doctors in their strike following firm promise from the government that their grievances will be addressed with no industrial action.
Some of the demands the nurses had issued included the CBA and extension of UHC staff contracts for two years under controversial terms.
