Nurses Declare Nationwide Strike Over Delayed Grievances
Key among the union’s demands is the permanent employment of nurses currently serving under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program.
KNUN Secretary General seth Panyako. Photo/Uzalendo News.
By Linda Muhanji
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has announced a 26-day strike notice, threatening a nationwide work stoppage starting June 24 over unresolved grievances dating back as far as 2017.
Speaking at a press conference on May 29, KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako condemned the government for failing to address long-standing issues affecting thousands of nurses across the country.
He accused authorities of neglecting healthcare workers and creating an environment of disillusionment and burnout.
“The issues we have raised are not new,” Panyako said. “Some have remained unresolved for over seven years. Nurses across the country will down their tools if nothing changes by June 24.”
Key among the union’s demands is the permanent employment of nurses currently serving under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program.
Panyako decried the continued exploitation of qualified nurses on short-term contracts, noting that many perform the same duties as their permanently employed counterparts but earn significantly less and lack job security.
“It’s an injustice we can no longer tolerate,” Panyako stated, adding that the situation has led to demoralisation within the health sector.
The union also criticised the Ministry of Health for failing to implement a revised salary structure scheduled for July 2024, warning that poor pay and working conditions are pushing healthcare professionals to the brink.
In a show of solidarity, the Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA) also threatened to join the strike. Clinical officers expressed concern over the lack of medical insurance following the government’s phasing out of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), leaving many unable to access care themselves.
“We are tired of empty assurances,” a KCOA representative said. “If no action is taken, we are ready to join the industrial action.”
Both unions are calling on the National Treasury to allocate more resources to the Ministry of Health in the upcoming budget to improve staffing, remuneration, and healthcare delivery standards.
The looming strike threatens to paralyse Kenya’s public health sector, already under strain from recent doctor protests and ongoing resource shortages. With less than a month to the deadline, the government faces growing pressure to avert another healthcare crisis.
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