The Machakos County government has expressed its readiness to engage in dialogue with striking nurses in a bid to end the ongoing industrial action that has crippled healthcare services in the region.
Nurses in Machakos downed their tools last week, leaving hundreds of patients stranded in public hospitals as the dispute between the county and healthcare workers escalated. The strike, which is part of a nationwide industrial action declared in May, has seen services at Machakos Level Five Hospital and other health facilities severely disrupted.
Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, speaking at the Kithimani Salvation Army church on Sunday, assured residents that the county administration is committed to resolving the matter quickly to restore essential services.
“We are determined to solve this matter and move forward. Let us not make it political because those who will be affected are the patients,” Mwangangi said. “If our healthcare infrastructure is strong, we can even attract clients from urban centres. That is why it is critical that we negotiate with our nurses and end these strikes.”
At the heart of the nurses’ grievances are demands for the implementation of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which promises a salary increment, promotions, and improved working conditions. They also accuse the county of failing to remit statutory deductions and of disregarding the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) circular issued in 2024.
The nurses insist that without the county government’s commitment to honouring the CBA, they have no choice but to continue with the industrial action.
Meanwhile, residents who depend on county hospitals for medical care are bearing the brunt of the strike. Long queues, unattended patients, and delayed treatment have become the norm at facilities such as Machakos Level Five Hospital, where scores of patients have been left without care.
The standoff underscores the growing strain in Kenya’s healthcare system, where disputes over salaries, promotions, and resource allocation have repeatedly led to strikes by medical personnel.
As negotiations loom, patients and residents are anxiously waiting for a resolution that will bring an end to the impasse and restore normalcy in Machakos’ public health facilities.
