Man Under Fire: Why Nurses Demand Seth Panyako’s Ouster
Amidst his calls for a national nurses’ strike, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary-General Seth Panyako is facing pressure.
Panyako, who on Sunday demanded the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) fulfill the 2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) within a week, stated that the delay forces nurses to strike alongside doctors.
“We lack trust in the government. It must operate as a unified body … I worry that this government is failing us,” he said in a statement.
“We are being pushed to convey salary changes to our members by a government that hasn’t consulted us, which reflects poorly on us,” he added.
Last week, a petition was filed with the Registrar of Trade Unions to remove Mr. Panyako from his role, as well as from the national executive committee and the governing council.
Petitioners Mueni Mwikya, Joseph Mwendwa, Bosire Ogeti, Everlyne Webwa, Francisca Mulei, and Caroline Kanana claim this would lead to a caretaker committee and subsequent fair and transparent elections.
The petition alleges that KNUN’s entire membership wants the dissolution of the Secretary-General’s office, the National Executive Council (NEC), and the national governing council (NGC) due to an irregular election in 2021.
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Other accusations against Panyako include raising the monthly membership fee from Sh600 to Sh1,000 without consulting members and removing original members from leadership positions due to differing opinions.
Petitioners assert that all internal avenues for resolving disputes within KNUN have been exhausted.
In response, Panyako stated: “The government is opposing me because I’ve blocked KNUN from striking. Do you think they will listen to them?” he questioned. “The petitioners are naïve to believe the government can oust me, and if they attempt to protest, they will be arrested.”
Panyako claims the government can’t remove him because he is “protected by the International Labour Organisation convention No. 135, which emphasizes trade union independence and government non-interference.”
However, Mr. Dennis Nkarichia of Mohammed Muigai LLP argues that the Registrar of Trade Unions has the authority to intervene in trade union management and operations if members demonstrate that internal dispute resolution methods have failed.
Man Under Fire: Why Nurses Demand Seth Panyako’s Ouster