Nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) commenced a strike on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, joining health workers across Kenya in protest over the government's failure to implement the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The industrial action has caused significant disruption at the country’s largest referral hospital as nurses demand salary harmonisation and better terms of service promised under the CBA.
Key Grievances Behind the Strike
- Non-implementation of salary harmonisation across health facilities
- Stalled improvements in working conditions
- Delayed enforcement of the 2025–2029 CBA provisions
The nurses, demonstrating outside the hospital with placards and protest chants, emphasized their refusal to return to work until their concerns are addressed. They criticized the government for reneging on commitments despite suspending a previous strike four months earlier in good faith.
Impact on Patients and Healthcare Services
The strike has affected public hospitals nationwide, with patients in Mombasa, Nyamira, Embu, and Busia counties reporting difficulties accessing care. Notably, maternity services have been heavily impacted; some mothers revealed their newborns missed critical vaccinations, including the birth polio vaccine.
One new mother in Mombasa expressed concern over the risk posed by the missed immunization, highlighting the strain on families seeking alternative care.
Broader Healthcare Sector Challenges
This strike underscores ongoing challenges in Kenya’s health sector, which is already strained by staffing shortages and delayed labour agreement implementations. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has called for urgent resolution of these issues to support Universal Health Coverage efforts and improve service delivery.
The strike is set to continue until the government and health workers reach a new agreement, prolonging uncertainty for thousands reliant on public health services.
