Orengo orders immediate release of Ksh 9.8M owed to Siaya nurses

Siaya Governor James Orengo has ordered the immediate release of more than Ksh 9.8 million owed to county nurses for nearly three years.

Orengo stated that it was unfair to withhold the nurses’ two-month salaries from the period they participated in an industrial strike in 2021.

He highlighted that a return-to-work formula was signed and that the Industrial and Labour Relations Court ruled in favour of the nurses, making it clear that the county government should pay the outstanding dues.

The governor made these remarks at the county headquarters while addressing the nurses, who had marched to his office to demand payment.

Earlier, the nurses took to the streets to press for a solution to their demands. Their leaders engaged in a closed-door meeting with the governor and senior county officials.

Governor Orengo said his government had no reason to continue withholding the salaries. He then led the nurses’ representatives in a march to the county treasury to instruct the finance department to begin the process of clearing the dues immediately.

Orengo also announced that his government would investigate the whereabouts of the funds that were set aside for the arrears.

“The money was there in 2021. In the name of accountability, we must determine where your money went,” he said. “If we are to stop such things, we must know the cause that made you not get your dues for close to three years.”

Regarding the recent “Occupy County Government” demonstrations, Orengo accused United Democratic Alliance (UDA) operatives of exploiting Gen Z demonstrators to send goons to intimidate Azimio la Umoja-led counties.

“Some people are trying to infiltrate the demonstrations,” he said, adding that he would not be intimidated by such acts.

Sylvester Ng’anda, executive secretary of the Kenya National Union of Nurses, Siaya branch, said the nurses had hit a dead end in fighting for their dues after the previous administration refused to honour a return-to-work formula and a court order for payment.

Ng’anda praised Governor Orengo for taking it upon himself to find a lasting solution.