Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) issued a strike notice on May 30, announcing that its members will commence a nationwide industrial action on June 24. The strike is planned to last for 26 days or until their longstanding demands are satisfactorily addressed by the government.

Core Grievances

The union, under the leadership of Secretary-General Seth Panyako, stated that several unresolved issues have compelled them to take this drastic step. A primary concern is the continued failure by authorities to hire nurses on permanent and pensionable terms, a promise they claim has been pending for years. Mr. Panyako emphasized the frustration among nurses, particularly those employed under Universal Health Coverage (UHC) contracts for the past five years with what he termed "minimal pay" despite performing the same duties as their permanently employed colleagues with equivalent qualifications. “Nurses employed under the UHC scheme have suffered for more than five years, earning peanuts while doing the same work with equal qualifications,” he stated, adding that the strike is a “now or never” moment for the union members.

Additional Demands and Context

KNUN also highlighted that a comprehensive salary review promised in 2024 was never implemented, and that numerous pending promotions, some overdue by two years, remain unfulfilled. This announcement follows similar strike threats from other healthcare worker groups, including clinical officers, who voiced their grievances earlier on May 29. The nurses' union believes the impending strike will exert necessary pressure on the government to honor existing agreements related to staffing levels, fair compensation, and overall labor reforms within the public health sector.