MPs, Senators to blame for Nurses strike, Kabogo says

Months after doctors called off the 100 days strike in the country; Kenyan nurses on Monday entered day one of paralyzing public health activities over unsigned and court-registered collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Health sector being at the helm of county governments since inception of devolution, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) had accused county heads of incapacitating the registration and the signing of the deal.

Kiambu County governor William Kabogo has however maintained that county governments do not receive enough funds to sustain the health sector.

Kabogo said that survival of county governments is based on their financial capacity blaming the senate and parliamentarians for failing to increase county allocations.

He noted that the mandates of county governments were not corresponding with the funding required noting that senators and parliamentarians were to blame for the challenges in the health sector.

Speaking during a Kameme TV interview on Monday, Kabogo decried allocation of more funds to scarcely populated counties which according to him raise less national revenues.

The governor singled out allocation of 12 billion to Turkana County as compared to 8 billion allocations to Kiambu County which is more populated.

‘Mombasa, Nairobi, Kiambu, Kakamega and Kisumu are the most densely populated counties yet they receive fewer shares. In fact, these counties raise more revenue for the national government.

If re-elected, I will push a bill at the national assembly to will push for the redesigning of county funds allocation formula. The bill will depict allocation of more funds to densely populated counties unlike the current formula,’ said Kabogo.

The county boss called on nurses to consider resolving their grievances instead of paralyzing health sector operations which risked the lives of innocent Kenyans.

He however said Kiambu had move a mile ahead in ensuring health sector remained on top of other sectors noting that his government was committed to remunerate health workers, equip as well as provide modern services to Kiambu hospitals.

Kabogo lauded Jubilee government for embracing devolution citing that the common Kenyans had tasted the nearness of government services.