The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Mombasa has ordered nurses across Kenya to immediately end their ongoing nationwide strike and resume duties unconditionally. The strike, led by the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), has severely disrupted healthcare services in public hospitals across all 47 counties.
Justice Monica Mbaru, who presided over the case certified as urgent, emphasized that the order aims to prevent further interruption of critical health services and to avoid unnecessary suffering and potential loss of life among patients dependent on public facilities.
In her ruling, Justice Mbaru also prohibited the union from continuing any industrial action related to the strike notices issued on July 21 and July 29 until the legal dispute is fully resolved. To ensure compliance, county labour officers have been tasked with monitoring nurses’ attendance and submitting reports to the court by September 22.
The judge warned that nurses who fail to return to work without lawful justification may face disciplinary measures from their respective county governments.
The prolonged strike has strained Kenya’s public health system, causing delays in treatment, postponed surgeries, and extended waiting times for patients nationwide. The court’s intervention seeks to restore normal healthcare operations while the dispute is adjudicated.
