Nurses accuse Panyako of impeding their unity
Wrangles at the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) continued yesterday after some branch officials accused the unions’ secretary Seth Panyako of being the stumbling block towards their unity.
In a thin-veiled attack, the officials said Panyako is the reason why nurses’ issues including professional degradation and salary increase have not been addressed.
The officials led by Elgeyo Marakwet branch secretary Benson Biwott, the nurses alleged of a plan by Panyako to change the union’s constitution to convert him into a lifetime secretary at the union.
According to Biwott, the firebrand unionist recently tried to remove the position of the chairman from the structure of the union but his attempts failed to bear fruit after the Registrar of trade unions declined to effect his desire.
The officials also accused Panyako of paying his wife and an underage child Sh105,000 per month through the payroll of union employees.
“If Panyako is not fighting his branch officials, he is fighting his National Executive Council colleagues, if he is not fighting the government of its leaders; he is fighting a branch official, an employee or any officer of any other trade union,” alleged Biwott.
Biwott who spoke yesterday in Nairobi said they have already written to the Registrar of Trade Unions.
