Kenya’s public health sector is staring at a looming crisis after the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) issued a 26-day strike notice, demanding urgent action from both national and county governments over longstanding and unresolved grievances.
Addressing the press in Nairobi on Thursday, KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako announced that nurses across the country would begin a nationwide strike on July 7, 2025, if their demands are not met. At the heart of the protest is the union’s call for the employment of nurses under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program on permanent and pensionable terms.
“Our members have endured years of neglect and broken promises. Some of these issues have persisted for over seven years. Enough is enough,” said Panyako.
He cited widespread disparities in employment terms, unsafe working conditions, and growing insecurity within the public health system, which he said continue to undermine service delivery and nurse welfare.
Among the union’s key demands is the implementation of the 2024 salary structure proposed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), outlined in a circular dated September 12, 2024, and meant to take effect from July 1, 2024. Panyako accused county governments of deliberately ignoring the directive.
KNUN also wants the government to fully implement the Return-to-Work Formula signed on November 2, 2017, and finalize pending Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), which have been repeatedly delayed despite the union’s willingness to engage.
Panyako further raised alarm over what he termed as illegal agency fee deductions by Kenyatta National Hospital and the delayed disbursement of funds to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, which he said had crippled operations.
Additional grievances include a critical shortage of nurses in public hospitals, lack of preauthorization for nurse anesthetists, and the failure to recognize nursing facilities registered by the Nursing Council of Kenya.
The union also accused government bodies of failing to remit third-party deductions, terming it as outright financial misconduct.
While reaffirming KNUN’s openness to dialogue, Panyako warned that nurses would not hesitate to take industrial action if no progress is made. “We are ready to engage, but we cannot keep waiting forever. The government must act now,” he declared.
If the strike proceeds, it could paralyze healthcare services nationwide, affecting millions who rely on public hospitals for essential medical care.
Written By Rodney Mbua
