A nurses’ union in Kisumu County has criticized Nyakach Member of Parliament Aduma Owuor over remarks it described as derogatory toward the nursing profession, urging politicians to respect all careers and professions.
Officials of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kisumu branch, said Owuor’s comments suggesting nurses were unfit to hold senior elective positions were discriminatory and demeaning.
KNUN Kisumu branch Secretary Maurice Opetu while addressing the press in Kisumu on Tuesday, said nurses are qualified professionals capable of serving in top leadership positions, including political office.”It is wrong for any leader to insinuate that nurses cannot hold elective positions.
“Nurses have the knowledge, skills and leadership capacity to serve at the highest levels,” Opetu said.
The remarks follow comments made by Owuor during the burial of Jack Omondi, brother of former Kisumu County Assembly Majority Leader Samuel Ong’ou.
The MP reportedly told mourners that Kisumu voters could not replace a professor with a nurse as governor.
Opetu defended Kisumu Central MP Dr. Joshua Oron, a gubernatorial aspirant, describing him as a highly trained nurse with a master’s degree.
“Dr. Oron is qualified to hold any public office. We have nurses who are professors, lawyers and engineers,”he said.
The profession has produced leaders serving in very senior positions across the country,” he said.He further noted that nurses have constitutional rights to vote and seek elective office.
Opetu said the union would mobilize nurses to support Oron’s gubernatorial bid in the next General Election and accused Owuor of undermining healthcare professionals.
“We have rejected and disowned his remarks.They are discriminatory and unacceptable, “he said.
Outgoing Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o is a professor, while another gubernatorial aspirant, Tom Ojienda, also holds a professorship.
Meanwhile, nurses and clinical officers in Kisumu County raised concerns over delays in payment of their May salaries.
Speaking on behalf of the healthcare workers, clinical officer Dominic Ndinya said the salary delays had left many workers struggling to meet basic obligations, including school fees and medical expenses.
He also accused the county government of failing to remit insurance premiums, leaving workers without medical cover.
“We are virtually walking to work as we wait for our salaries. Instead of addressing our concerns, authorities are using threats and intimidation,” Ndinya said.
The healthcare workers called on the county government to urgently resolve the salary delays and honour its obligations to employees.
Leave a comment