Kenyan nurses have extended their strike notice by 30 days, pushing the planned industrial action to August 3, 2025, after the government appointed a conciliator to mediate the ongoing dispute. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) announced the decision on Friday, citing compliance with Section 66 of the Labour Relations Act, 2007, which allows for an extension once a conciliator is appointed.
The union’s Secretary General, Seth Panyako, confirmed the move during a National Advisory Council meeting in Nairobi. “We hereby extend the notice of the intended strike by 30 days. Should the dispute remain unresolved, nurses will commence strike on August 3 and shall remain on strike until their issues are fully addressed,” Panyako stated.
In formal communication to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Service, Kenyatta National Hospital, and the Council of Governors, the union reiterated its commitment to dialogue, emphasizing that the extension was made in good faith to give room for a peaceful resolution.
Union Chairperson Joseph Ngwasi stressed the nurses’ commitment to lawful industrial action. “Nurses are law-abiding workers. That is why we have decided to extend the strike notice rather than down our tools immediately,” he said.
However, the union remains firm on its demands. Key grievances include the government’s failure to absorb Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses into permanent and pensionable terms, delays in implementing the 2024 salary structure recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and failure by counties to finalise Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
Panyako also warned against fragmented county-level negotiations, insisting that talks must be conducted centrally. “We will not allow the government to hold separate meetings with nurses in the 47 counties. We demand a centralized negotiation platform,” he asserted.
The union has further accused the government of reneging on a Return-to-Work Formula agreed upon in 2017 and delaying budget disbursements to critical institutions like Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.
If unresolved, the strike could severely disrupt healthcare services across the country.
