Nurses in Trans Nzoia County have launched a strike following 50 days of unsuccessful negotiations with the county government, leading to a complete shutdown of health services in all 93 public health facilities across the county.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) branch in the county announced that the industrial action would continue until the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is signed. The nurses are demanding salary increases, overdue promotions, and the hiring of 850 additional nurses out of the county’s target of 2,300 to address a severe shortage in staffing.
Other demands include the implementation of circulars from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), increased nursing service allowances, and the remittance of Social Health Authority deductions. The nurses also want the county to convert Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses from contractual terms to permanent and pensionable positions, citing the insecurity that comes with short-term contracts despite their frontline healthcare role.
The union has criticised the county for failing to implement the 2024 SRC salary structure and disregarding the 2017 Return-to-Work Agreement. They allege a persistent pattern of neglect toward nurses’ welfare and labour rights, leading to a breakdown of trust between the two parties.
During past consultative meetings, agreements were made to submit new proposals and form a negotiation committee, but these commitments were not fulfilled. The union also notes that the SRC approved a Personal Guide Allowance of Sh20,000 in March 2024 and an increase in risk allowance from Sh3,850 to Sh5,000 in 2017, yet these adjustments have not been implemented.
In addition, the nurses are pushing for annual uniform allowances ranging between Sh35,000 and Sh50,000, as recommended by the Ministry of Health in 2008.
The KNUNM maintains that the strike is protected under Articles 36 and 41 of the Constitution of Kenya and in line with International Labour Organization Conventions No. 87 and 98, which protect the rights to organise and bargain collectively.
With the strike now in full effect, healthcare services in Trans Nzoia County have been brought to a standstill, and the nurses insist they will not return to work until all their demands are met.
