Nurses in Tana River County have joined a nationwide health workers' strike, intensifying disruptions in public healthcare services across Kenya. The industrial action is part of a broader protest involving clinical officers, laboratory technicians, and public health officers.

Represented by the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), the nurses are demanding the full implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which they say remains unfulfilled by both national and county governments. They are also calling for the immediate absorption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses into permanent and pensionable employment, accusing authorities of delaying this commitment.

At the strike launch in Hola Town, KNUN Tana River secretary-general Richard Onchiri confirmed that the union had formally notified the county government of the withdrawal of services. He emphasized that the strike will persist until their grievances are addressed.

Key demands include:

  • Implementation of the 2017 CBA
  • Permanent and pensionable status for UHC nurses
  • Reinstatement of nurses dismissed during previous strikes
  • Implementation of the 2024 Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) salary structure
  • Resolution of illegal agency fee deductions and third-party remittance failures

National Deputy Chair of the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) for nurses and midwives, Damon Kwaraa, highlighted frustration over delayed confirmation of UHC workers’ permanent employment. He stated the strike would only end once the government commits necessary funds and reopens negotiations.

Kenya Union of Clinical Officers Secretary-General George Gibore warned that the ongoing strike is severely impacting public health services, with patient numbers in some facilities dropping from thousands to a few hundred daily. He noted that essential services such as immunizations and maternal care are at risk.

The health workers urge the government to return to the negotiation table to resolve the dispute and prevent further deterioration of healthcare delivery.