Nurses strike looms over pay, broken deals

The Kenya National Union of Nurses leaders lead by National Deputy Secretary General Maurice Opetu announcing plans to go on strike starting 8th August unless the County Governments, Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, and other concerned institutions commit to addressing their demands. [Michael Mute/The Standard] The country is staring at a looming health crisis after the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) announced plans for a nationwide strike set to begin on August 8, 2025, citing years of unmet promises and persistent neglect by county and national governments. In a press briefing on Friday, KNUN leaders said that nurses across the country will withdraw their services unless urgent action is taken to implement longstanding agreements and resolve key grievances. The looming strike, described by union leaders as the "mother of all strikes", threatens to cripple public healthcare facilities and leave millions without critical care. "Nurses have been patient enough," said Frederick Oigo, the Deputy National Chairman of KNUN. "If we take national action, the government will have no one else to blame. We entered a return-to-work agreement in 2017 up to today, it remains unfulfilled." The union's frustrations stem from the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), a deal signed between KNUN, the Council of Governors, and the National Government to address pay, working conditions and job security. Eight years later, union leaders say little has been implemented. According to Henry Hadula, KNUN's National Trustee, counties have been evasive and dishonest. "We were taken through conciliation to avoid industrial action. But counties have been cunning. They say there's no money, yet the national government disbursed over Sh6.2 billion for UHC nurses. To date, many haven't been confirmed on permanent terms," he said. The union has listed several issues fueling the planned strike, including failure to implement the SRC salary review circular dated September 12, 2024, which was adopted by the national government but ignored by counties. There is also refusal by counties to negotiate and finalize CBAs with KNUN, continued neglect of UHC contract nurses many of whom were hired during the Covid-19 pandemic, and a lack of adequate staffing in facilities, leading to extreme workloads and burnout. Nurses are also protesting the non-remittance of third-party deductions such as loans and insurance premiums. These deductions are regularly deducted from their salaries but never reach the relevant institutions, exposing many nurses to penalties, default listings and denial of essential services. Maurice Opetu, the union's Deputy Secretary-General, painted a grim picture of life on the ground. He noted that in many health centres, one nurse is tasked with performing multiple roles from patient care to pharmacy, security and lab work. "We have nurses manning wards with 40 patients. They don't go on leave. They're overworked, underpaid and mentally drained," he said. Opetu accused county executives and public service boards of deliberately stalling negotiations out of fear and lack of political will. "They say our issues are valid and can be resolved, but they have no mandate from governors. We've been moving in circles for eight years. We have had enough." He added that training institutions, including universities and medical training colleges, have been asked to recall their students, warning that nurses will not be available to supervise interns during the strike. While the Ministry of Labour did appoint conciliators after the union issued a strike notice in May 2025, the 30-day extension granted by KNUN will expire on August 8.

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