Siaya County nurses face potential salary and allowance cuts after defying a court-issued return-to-work order, the county government announced.
On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, a Kisumu court issued an interim injunction restraining nurses from continuing their ongoing strike. In response, the Siaya County government directed all nurses participating in the strike to report back to their workstations by 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
“All nurses and midwives who were participating in the strike which commenced on September 17, 2025, resume duty in their respective work stations immediately and not later than Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 8 a.m.,” the notice read.
The directive warned that any nurse or midwife failing to comply with the court order would have their salaries and allowances withheld, in line with the law. To ensure compliance, Governor James Orengo instructed the county officer in charge of Health to conduct daily roll calls to monitor attendance and verify which nurses have resumed duty.
Despite the strict measures, the county government assured striking nurses that no one would face victimisation or punishment for initially taking part in the industrial action.
The nurses have been on strike for seven weeks, citing the county government’s failure to honour a prior return-to-work formula and non-remittance of statutory deductions. Additionally, they are demanding compensation for colleagues injured during violent incidents in September, when suspected hired goons attacked demonstrators with clubs and crude weapons, leaving more than 20 nurses injured.
The ongoing standoff highlights growing tensions between Siaya County’s administration and its healthcare workers, who vow to continue pressing for their demands until they are met. With the court order now in effect and daily monitoring in place, the coming days will determine whether the nurses comply or face financial sanctions.
