Nurses and midwives across the country have issued a 26-day strike notice to the government, citing long-standing grievances that have remained unaddressed for years.
In an official letter dated Thursday, May 29, 2025, Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Secretary General Seth Panyako said that the nationwide industrial action is set to begin on July 7, 2025, if their demands are not met.
Panyako noted that several of the union’s grievances have remained unresolved for over seven years despite repeated appeals for dialogue and action.
According to him, nurses have continued to work under precarious conditions, which has created disparities in employment and insecurity within the public health system.
“The following issues have remained unresolved, some spanning over seven years, despite our efforts to have them amicably resolved, which now constitute our grounds for the nationwide strike,” Panyako stated.
“In this regard, the Union demands that the above be addressed within twenty-six (26) working days from the date of this letter; failure to which nurses will commence a strike on July 7, 2025, and shall remain on strike until their issues have been fully addressed.”
Grievances
Among the key issues highlighted is the government’s failure to convert nurses hired under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme to permanent and pensionable terms.
Panyako also faulted county governments for failing to implement the new 2024 salary structure proposed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in a circular dated September 12, 2024. The structure, he says, was to take effect from July 1, 2024.
“Nurses employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme have not been transitioned to permanent and pensionable terms as expected, creating job insecurity and disparity in employment conditions,” Panyako stated.
“Failure to implement the new SRC Salary Structure for 2024 contained in the SRC circular Ref: SRC/TS/29/Vol.II(29) (2a) dated 12th September 2024 effective 1st July 2024. The counties have not implemented the revised 2024 salary structure as per the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) guidelines, leaving employees undercompensated.”
Other grievances include the failure to honour a return-to-work agreement signed on November 2, 2017; the refusal by county governments to negotiate and conclude Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs); and the illegal deduction of agency fees at Kenyatta National Hospital.
“Failure to implement the Return to Work Formula of 2nd November, 2017. Failure by the county government to negotiate and conclude Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA’s),” he added.
“That despite several attempts to have the above resolved with yourselves, their predicaments remain purposefully unanswered, ignored and unyielding. Illegal deduction of Agency Fee by Kenyatta National Hospital.”
The union further accused the Ministry of Health of failing to transfer budgetary allocations to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, ignoring the acute shortage of nurses in public health facilities, and not addressing the need for preauthorisation of nurse anaesthetists and empanelment of nursing health facilities registered by the Nursing Council of Kenya.
Failure by the Ministry of Health to transfer budget and grants to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital. Failure to address the acute nurse shortage in the public health facilities and preauthorisation of nurse anaesthetists and empanelment of nursing health facilities registered by the Nursing Council of Kenya,” he said.
In addition, the nurses raised concerns about the failure to remit third-party deductions.
“Failure to remit 3rd party deductions,” Panyako stated.
The union has also instructed branch officials to begin mobilising members for full participation in the planned strike.
“By a copy of this letter, the branch officials are hereby instructed to mobilise the members for participation in the strike,” he added.
