About 20 nurses were injured and several mobile phones lost after being attacked by “organized groups” wielding rungus.
MASOGO DIOCESE, Siaya, October 1st –The Church of Christ in Africa (CCA), Masogo Diocese, under the leadership of Bishop Noah Ochola, has castigated the brutal attack meted out on peacefully demonstrating nurses in Siaya County on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
The attack which saw about 20 nurses injured and loss of several mobile phones, were carried out by “organized groups” wielding rungus (batons) in close proximity to the Siaya County Governor’s office.
This, CCA points out is a representation of a severe breach of public trust and constitutional order.
Bishop Ochola emphasized that the brazen nature of the attack, which occurred in the full view of law enforcement officers who failed to intervene, terming it ‘a shocking abdication of duty,’ that suggests a level of official complicity that demands the highest level of accountability.
“Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, and their peaceful demand for their rights should be met with dialogue, not violence,” stated Bishop Ochola in a signed statement on October 1st.
The Church asserts that the failure to protect nurses at the very seat of county power is not just a failure of security; it is a moral failure that shames our nation.
“Any attempt to silence essential workers through intimidation and violence is an unlawful attack on the principles of justice, human dignity, and democracy itself.”
Call for Action
The CCA has issued a series of urgent demands to the National Police Service, calling for an immediate, transparent, and credible investigation into this attack.
“All perpetrators and individuals who orchestrated this violence must be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The officers present who failed in their duty to protect citizens must also be held accountable.”
The Church urged the James Orengo-led administration to immediately and unconditionally condemn this violence, engage in good-faith negotiations with the nursing fraternity to address their legitimate grievances, and provide a public guarantee for the safety of all citizens exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
The CCA emphasized that national authorities need to intervene and reaffirm the state’s fundamental responsibility to protect all citizens, especially essential workers. Concrete measures must be put in place to ensure such a travesty of justice never recurs in any part of Kenya.
Confirming the attacks and injuries, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Siaya Branch Chairman Denis Omolo and Secretary Kennedy Hamisi condemned the the heinous attacks on the health workers, and vowed to continue with the strike for the next 30 days until their grievances are met.
Some of the reasons raised during the 13-days strike by the Siaya nurses include delays to implement the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Circular, non-remittance of statutory deductions, and honouring their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
In light of the foregoing, the church observes that the ongoing nurses’ strike has precipitated a severe healthcare crisis, causing immense suffering to innocent citizen. A swift and just resolution is a moral imperative.
“Both levels of government must prioritize the well-being of the people and find a lasting solution that allows nurses to return to their life-saving work with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The CCA-Masogo Diocese made a direct and solemn appeal to President William Ruto to personally intervene.
“The government must demonstrate through decisive action that the constitutional rights of every Kenyan are inviolable. Justice in this matter must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.”
It has expressed its unwavering solidarity with the nursing fraternity, as it concludes that; “We pray for the swift and complete recovery of all injured nurses and reaffirm our sacred commitment to championing peace, justice, and the rule of law.”
