Nurses extend strike notice by 30 days after government appoints conciliator

Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) National Chairman Joseph Ngwasi and Secretary General Seth Panyako lead other members during a press briefing on the nationwide strike at Best Western Meridian Hotel, Nairobi on June 27, 2025. /LEAH MUKANGAI

Nurses have extended their strike notice by 30 days following the government’s move to appoint a conciliator to mediate the ongoing dispute.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) announced the extension on Friday, citing compliance with Section 66 of the Labour Relations Act, 2007.

The Act allows for the extension of a strike notice once a conciliator has been appointed, to facilitate dialogue and the resolution of disputes.

“We hereby extend the notice of the intended strike by 30 days from the date of this letter. Should the dispute remain unresolved within the stipulated timelines, nurses will commence strike on August 3, 2025, and shall remain on strike until their issues are fully addressed,” said secretary general Seth Panyako during a meeting of the union’s National Advisory Council in Nairobi.

In a formal communication to the Ministries of Health and Public Service, Kenyatta National Hospital, and the Council of Governors, Panyako reaffirmed the union’s commitment to the conciliation process.

“We reiterate our commitment to the conciliation process in good faith in the hope that the dispute will be resolved amicably within the extended period,” the letter read.

Union chairperson Joseph Ngwasi stressed the lawful and peaceful approach adopted by the nurses.

“Nurses are law-abiding workers. That is why we have decided to extend the strike notice rather than down our tools immediately,” Ngwasi stated during a press briefing following the council meeting.

Panyako further insisted that negotiations must be conducted centrally, rather than through fragmented, county-level discussions.

“We will not allow the government to hold separate meetings with nurses in the 47 counties. We demand a centralized negotiation platform,” he declared.

The initial strike was set to begin on 7 July, following the expiry of a 26-day strike notice issued by the union.

The union says the strike threat was prompted by the government’s continued failure to address longstanding grievances.

Among the unresolved issues are the failure to convert nurses employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme from contract terms to permanent and pensionable status, non-implementation of the 2024 salary structure as recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and delays by county governments in finalising Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).

Nurses have also cited the government’s failure to implement a Return-to-Work Formula agreed upon in 2017 and delays in disbursing timely budgetary allocations to key health institutions, including Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The union has maintained that unless all grievances are addressed, nurses will proceed with the strike action in August—potentially paralysing health services nationwide.