AN INQUIRY INTO INDUSTRIAL ACTION AMONG NURSES IN KENYA: A MANAGEMENT PROBLEM OR A LEADERSHIP FAILURE?

Abstract

The phenomenon of “industrial action” or “medical strikes” has become a major occurrence in the current

medical practice all the world over. It has been carried out by almost all medical practitioners and by Nurses in

particular leaving a catastrophic impact to the community. The ministry of health in Kenya particularly has had

a good number of the strikes since the current government assumed power in 2013 and it is still experiencing it

currently. Most of the nurses issues of concern such as; nurses’ high workload, inadequate staffing, total lack

of/inadequate medical supplies, poor working conditions, delayed or lack of promotion, Pay issues (delayed

salaries and poor remuneration) remain unresolved leading to an endless cat and mouse game between the

governments (National and County) who are the employers and the workers (nurses). The key players involved

in Leadership (policy/decision makers) include the Council of Governors (CoG), Salaries and Remuneration

Commission (SRC), Central Organization of trade Unions (COTU), Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN),

and The National Assembly. The Management (Implementers) are County Public Service Boards, Treasury,

Ministry of Health, Ministry of EAC, Labor and Social Protection. Until these two groups come to an

agreement, ordinary citizens will continue to suffer from preventable and manageable illnesses and the progress

achieved in health so far will be eroded. Consequently, the stalemate we are experiencing in Kenya between the

nurses’ employers and the nurses is a sign of lack of both leadership and management skills in the health sector

and the stakeholders involved.