Nurses' union extends strike notice for 30 days as talks open

The Kenya Union of Nurses and Midwives ( KNUNM) led by KNUNM secretary General Seth Panyako addressing the media on the postponement of their strike to 30th, August, at a Nairobi hotel. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has extended its planned nationwide strike notice for 30 days to allow for talks with national and county governments.

Union Secretary General Seth Panyako said the strike, which was scheduled to begin on July 7 will now be put on hold as the union seeks an agreement on long-running disputes over staffing and pay.

“Following the meeting that had been held today the strike that was supposed to start on July 7 2025 the council has unanimously resolved to extend the strike notice for 30 days,” said Panyako.

However, the union warned that if the talks fail, nurses will strike on Sunday, August 3.

The union issued the original strike notice on  Thursday, May 29, demanding that the government address acute nurse shortages in public health facilities and implement the return-to-work formula signed on Thursday, November 2, 2017.

Nurses are also pushing for the remittance of third-party deductions, the transfer of budget and grants to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital and the conversion of nurses under the Universal Health Coverage programme to permanent and pensionable terms.

The union claims that nurses under the UHC programme receive half the salaries of colleagues under permanent terms, creating pay disparities and insecurity.

Panyako noted that the union wants a centralised negotiation process instead of fragmented county-level discussions.

“Nurses and midwives shall not accept negotiations on all 47 counties we want it to happen at a one place,” noted Panyako.

He explained that the issues nurses face is national, requiring all stakeholders to address them together.

“And we are saying the Council of Governors Ministry of Health and all stakeholders must take responsibility these issues cut across hence we will not allow to be fragmented,” added Panyako.

The union maintains that it will not back down if the talks fail, insisting that the government must address the core grievances before the new deadline.