Nurses and midwives employed by national and county governments have begun a nationwide strike after the expiry of a seven-day notice issued by their union, following what it describes as years of unresolved labour disputes.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) says the industrial action, which began at one minute past midnight on 29 July 2026, will continue until its demands are fully addressed.
The union accuses the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors (CoG) of failing to resolve longstanding issues affecting nurses, some of which it says have remained outstanding for more than a decade.
Among the union’s key demands are the conclusion of negotiations for the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), implementation of the 2017 Return-to-Work Agreement, confirmation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff on permanent and pensionable terms.
Others are implementation of approved nursing career guidelines, and the reinstatement of 46 nurses dismissed by Kisii County in 2021.
In a strike notice dated July 21, 2026, the union warned that unless the grievances were addressed within seven days, nurses and midwives across all public health facilities would withdraw their labour.
Speaking in Kisumu on behalf of branch officials from the Nyanza region, Siaya Branch Secretary General Kennedy Hamisi said the strike was intended to compel the government and county administrations to honour agreements reached with healthcare workers.
“We are officially informing the public that nationwide industrial action by all nurses employed by the national and county governments has commenced,” Hamisi said.
He accused the Council of Governors of frustrating the implementation of benefits that had already received approval from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
“We are calling upon the Council of Governors to stop the threats, intimidation and the tendency of denying workers their rights,” he said.
Hamisi also criticised delays in confirming UHC nurses despite budgetary allocations and payroll adjustments indicating permanent and pensionable terms.
“A government policy cannot take decades to implement. UHC staff have remained on contract for years without confirmation letters or gratuity, despite their payslips indicating permanent and pensionable terms,” he said.
Migori Branch Secretary Ezekiel Mbira said the strike followed years of unsuccessful attempts to engage the government over the union’s concerns.
He said nurses had waited since the 2017 nationwide strike for the implementation of agreements reached at the time, including improvements in nursing service and uniform allowances.
“The issues raised by nurses since 2017 have not been resolved. This is why the National Union, under the leadership of General Secretary Seth Panyako, issued a nationwide strike notice covering all 47 counties, the Ministry of Health and national health facilities,” Mbira said.
He added that nurses were also demanding implementation of career guidelines approved by the Public Service Commission in March 2025, arguing that delays had stalled career progression for nursing staff.
Mbira further said uncertainty over the employment status of UHC workers had left many unsure whether they fell under the national or county governments.
Kisumu Branch Secretary Andrew Otieno urged nurses across Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori counties to comply fully with the strike directive, saying negotiations would only be conducted at the national level.
“There shall be no county based negotiations because this strike has been called by the national office,” he said.
Otieno instructed nurses to vacate their workstations and advised members of the public to seek treatment at private hospitals or Level Six referral facilities during the industrial action.
He said the strike would continue until the union’s demands, particularly the signing of the CBA and implementation of pending agreements, were met.
The strike is expected to disrupt services in public hospitals across the country, with nurses forming the largest workforce in Kenya’s public healthcare system.
The Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors had not publicly responded to the union’s latest statements at the time of publication.
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