North Rift Health Crisis Deepens as Strike Enters Third Week
The prolonged strike has increased pressure on the government to intervene as patients continue to face reduced access to healthcare services across the North Rift.
North Rift Health Crisis Deepens as Strike Enters Third Week. Photo Courtesy: The Star
By Judith Waka
The health crisis in the North Rift has intensified as a strike by nurses, clinical officers and laboratory technicians enters its third week.
The industrial action has disrupted services in public hospitals across Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties.
The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret has received more patients as residents from affected counties seek treatment at the regional referral facility.
The unions representing the health workers have warned that the strike could spread to private hospitals if county governments fail to address their demands.
The warning came as religious leaders called for urgent government intervention, saying the prolonged dispute was putting patients at risk.
Reverend Thomas Kiptoo and Muslim leader Abubakar Bini urged both sides to resume negotiations and reach an agreement.
Bini said the government should give priority to the health crisis because it directly affects people’s lives.
The striking workers have raised several grievances, including the delayed conclusion of the 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreement and implementation of the 2017 return-to-work agreement.
They are also demanding the absorption of Universal Health Coverage workers into permanent and pensionable employment, promotion of eligible staff and the remittance of statutory deductions.
Kenya National Union of Nurses official Kevin Kimutai and Kenya Union of Clinical Officers official Xavious Wamalwa led health workers during demonstrations in Eldoret.
Wamalwa said the unions would continue with the strike until their concerns were addressed.
He also confirmed that talks were underway with health workers in private facilities as unions considered expanding the industrial action.
“We are talking to our colleagues in the private sector so that we join hands to push for our demands and rights aimed at improving health services,” Wamalwa said.
Kimutai said nurses remained central to the delivery of healthcare services and urged county governments to resolve the dispute.
He said health workers had engaged authorities in negotiations for a long time without reaching a settlement.
Wamalwa maintained that county hospitals would remain affected until the unions’ demands were addressed.
The prolonged strike has increased pressure on the government to intervene as patients continue to face reduced access to healthcare services across the North Rift.
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