Nurses across Kenya are poised to launch a nationwide strike starting midnight on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, following years of unresolved labour disputes between the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) and government authorities.

Union leaders from Nyanza counties including Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, and Migori confirmed full participation in the industrial action, emphasizing that nurses will not resume work until their demands are met.

Key Grievances Driving the Strike

  • The union demands the immediate negotiation and signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), pending since the 2017 nurses’ strike.
  • Implementation of the 2017 return-to-work formula, including payment of nursing service and uniform allowances.
  • Clarification and formalization of employment status for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses, many of whom have not received official appointment letters despite payroll updates indicating permanent and pensionable status.
  • Enforcement of revised career progression guidelines approved by the Public Service Commission in March 2025, which counties have yet to implement, affecting promotions and professional growth.

Speaking in Kisumu, Migori KNUN Branch Secretary Ezekiel Mbira stressed that repeated negotiations since 2017 have yielded no results, leaving industrial action as the only viable recourse.

Kisumu KNUN Branch Secretary Andrew Otieno instructed nurses to commence the strike promptly after midnight and discouraged any county-level negotiations, stating that only the national union office holds negotiation authority.

Otieno also urged nurses to hand over facility keys to hospital management before withdrawing services and advised the public to seek care in private facilities or Level Six hospitals during the strike.

Siaya KNUN Branch Secretary Kennedy Hamisi accused the Council of Governors of obstructing the implementation of labour agreements and delaying confirmation of UHC nurses’ permanent employment, noting that some approved issues remain unaddressed despite Salaries and Remuneration Commission endorsements.

The union affirmed that the strike will persist until all outstanding issues, including the CBA signing, career progression implementation, and employment status resolution, are fully addressed.