MTRH Strike Suspended After Last-Minute Deal as Management, Unions Sign Return-to-Work Agreement
Health workers at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital have suspended a planned strike for two weeks after reaching a temporary agreement with management, offering relief to patients as negotiations on staff welfare continue.
A united front for better healthcare nurses and hospital leadership convene at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital as a planned strike is suspended to allow dialogue and solutions. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Healthcare services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital will continue uninterrupted after management and unions reached a last-minute agreement, suspending a planned strike and signing a return-to-work formula.
Hospital management and union leaders announced the breakthrough following days of negotiations, effectively averting industrial action that had been scheduled to begin Tuesday.
“This is a great day for us,” a senior hospital official said, confirming that both sides had agreed on a resolution “for the purpose of normalising things within the facility.”
Union representatives described the agreement as a major win for staff, noting that most of their demands had been addressed after a week of sustained agitation.
“The document that we are signing today is a huge win for the staff… most of our demands have been met by management,” said Edwin Rono. “I am very proud to declare that the strike is off.”
However, union officials clarified that the industrial action has only been suspended—not fully withdrawn—pending implementation of the agreement.
“We only suspend the intended strike as we give room for implementation. Failure… there will be resumption of the strike and picketing,” union leaders warned.
Key Issues Addressed
The dispute largely centred on delayed remittance of payroll deductions, pension concerns, and broader financial constraints affecting the hospital.
Management acknowledged challenges in meeting payroll obligations due to funding shortfalls but said a “workable formula” had been agreed to address the issues immediately.
“We’ve negotiated a workable formula to enable us to meet those deductions, which we should be able to implement immediately,” the official said.
The hospital also cited delays in government capitation and reliance on reimbursements from the Social Health Authority (SHA) as contributing factors. According to management, about 80% of its revenue now comes from SHA payments.
“When we do get remittances from SHA… it significantly helps us to address the challenges that we’ve faced,” the official added.
Staffing Concerns
Management further acknowledged staffing shortages, particularly among nurses, attributing this to migration and natural attrition.
“It is true that we have staff shortages… mainly due to exits, especially of nurses going for greener pastures,” the official said, adding that recruitment plans are underway following workforce assessments.
Conditional Truce
While welcoming the agreement, union leaders emphasized that their cooperation hinges on full implementation of the deal.
“We will be very vigilant… and every item that has been put forth, we believe will be implemented as it is,” said Daniel Osoru.
Another union leader, Xavier Wamalwa-Semiyu, said the decision to suspend the strike reflects goodwill but comes with a strict timeline.
“We are suspending the strike for two weeks… If our demands are not met, our demos will start without notice,” he said.
The agreement marks a temporary truce in the dispute, with both sides expressing optimism that the commitments made will stabilise operations and improve working conditions at the country’s second-largest referral hospital.
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