Govt Under Pressure as Kenya Nurses Set July 29 Nationwide Strike
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Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has called for a nationwide strike, stating that if the government does not address five long-standing grievances within a period of seven days, Nurses and midwives countrywide will call off work starting from 12.01 am on July 29th, 2026.
In the strike notice signed by KNUNM General Secretary Seth Panyako and circulated to the Council of Governors, Ministry of Health, Public Service Commission, Salaries and Remuneration Commission and other government agencies, the union reiterated that all attempts at resolution had been unsuccessful.
“The union wishes to bring to your attention the unresolved grievances from our members, for which efforts through her representatives have not yielded desired fruits,” the notice states.
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Nurses and Midwives Demand Resolution of Decade-Old Issues, including CBA Talks and Payments
The union claimed that the unresolved issues had lasted longer than a decade, all of which now call for a general strike across the nation.
The list of demands includes the quick ending of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.
KNUNM demands that the government supplies an implementation matrix of the 2017 Return-to-Work Agreement, fully implements the career guidelines for nursing personnel, and reinstates the 46 nurses in Kisii County who they claim were unlawfully deported in 2021while on duty.
The union also charged that the government had not paid the staff hired under the ‘Universal Health Coverage (UHC)’ program, despite budgets having been set aside by the National Treasury.
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Kenya Nurses and Midwives Threaten Nationwide Strike Over Permanent Job Demands
It claimed that the workers should be given permanent and pensionable jobs.
“In view of the above, the Union DEMANDS that the issues raised herein be addressed within Seven (7) days from the date of this letter, failure to which all Nurses and Midwives in the health facilities will commence a strike on 29th July 2026 at 00:01 AM and will remain on strike until the above issues are fully addressed,” the notice reads.
KNUNM has directed all branch officials countrywide to call out members for the strike, putting the big hammer on the national and county governments to avoid what could become one of the biggest health sector shutdowns in the country if an agreement is not reached before then.
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Health CS Aden Duale during the County Chief Officers for Health forum in Naivasha on April 16, 2026, where leaders from all 47 counties met to discuss UHC, health financing, and service delivery. PHOTO/MoH
