President William Ruto’s administration is facing a fresh crisis as the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has issued a 30-day strike notice, warning of a nationwide nurses’ strike beginning August 3. The union cites the government’s failure to honour key pay agreements and improve deplorable working conditions as the main reasons behind the looming industrial action.
The union’s general secretary, Seth Panyako, accused the government of blatant disregard for healthcare workers’ welfare. “Nurses will strike and completely paralyse healthcare provision in all public hospitals from August 3,” he declared following a National Advisory Council meeting that ratified the strike.
Initially scheduled to begin on July 7, the strike was postponed after the Ministry of Labour appointed a conciliator. However, Panyako warned that if the issues remain unresolved within the extended period, the strike will proceed and continue indefinitely until all grievances are addressed.
The impending strike poses a serious threat to Kenya’s public health system, especially in rural and underserved areas where nurses play a vital role in service delivery. Routine care, maternal health services, and emergency responses are expected to suffer significant disruption, further burdening a system already strained by an ongoing doctors’ strike in counties like Kiambu, Marsabit, and Kakamega.
Key unresolved issues include the failure to convert Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses from contract to permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms, non-implementation of the 2024 salary structure as advised by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and delays in county-level Collective Bargaining Agreements. The union also cited lack of funding for key institutions such as Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Despite Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s earlier promises to address these issues, he later admitted to funding shortfalls. While Sh3.5 billion has been allocated for healthcare, it only covers contract-based employment, leaving PnP terms unfeasible for now.
Panyako emphasized the union’s willingness to continue dialogue but made it clear that patience is running out. “The ball is in the government’s court,” he said, urging prompt action over continued promises.
