Nurses and midwives in Elgeyo Marakwet have called off their strike after reaching a return-to-work agreement with the county government aimed at addressing their long-standing grievances. The decision, announced on Friday, August 15, 2025, came after days of halted services across various health facilities in the county.
The healthcare workers had downed tools in protest over the delayed implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the failure to confirm nurses serving under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program and internship contracts. They argued that the shortage of staff in county facilities had overstretched the available workforce, compromising service delivery to residents.
Union representatives noted that many nurses had exited the service without being replaced, leaving those still in service overworked. They also demanded the promotion of nurses providing specialised care in critical departments such as renal units, intensive care, and eye clinics, warning that failure to act could result in suspension of these vital services.
Another key grievance was the continued employment of qualified nurses as casual workers beyond the legal three-month limit. Some of these workers, stationed at Iten County Referral Hospital, have been on duty since February without formal confirmation. The healthcare providers also lamented delayed salaries, with some reporting they had not been paid since April, and called for immediate settlement of arrears.
The return-to-work deal also revisits a commitment made in a previous agreement to establish a director of nursing services position, in line with nursing guidelines. This promise had yet to be honoured, and nurses insisted on its implementation as part of the new terms.
Additionally, the health workers are pushing for the signing of the 2025–2029 CBA and its formal deposit in court to ensure legal enforcement. They maintain that these steps are crucial for protecting nurses’ rights and improving healthcare delivery in the county.
The strike had initially been coordinated nationally, meaning county officials could not unilaterally end it. However, the agreement signals a willingness from both parties to resolve disputes and restore normalcy to health services. With the deal in place, nurses are set to return to their stations, bringing relief to residents who had been affected by disruptions in medical care.
