Court Orders Nurses to Immediately End Nationwide Strike

UPDATE: The Employment and Labour Relations Court has ordered nurses across the country to immediately end their strike and ordered union members to resume work immediately pending the hearing and determination of the dispute.

The nationwide strike by nurses and midwives will continue despite the Ministry of Labour appointing a national conciliator to help resolve their grievances.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) on Wednesday, August 5, said the strike remains in force across all 47 county governments as negotiations begin.

In a letter dated August 4, 2026, the Ministry of Labour, through the Office of the Commissioner for Labour, appointed Raphael E. Tiktik of the Headquarters Labour Office as the National Conciliator.

The appointment followed a request by the union for the ministry to invoke Section 70(1) of the Labour Relations Act, 2007, and appoint a centralized conciliator to help resolve the dispute.

The ministry said Tiktik will engage the union and the relevant government agencies through consultative dialogue.

“I have appointed Mr. Raphael E. Tiktik of Headquarters Labour Office to assist you in resolving the same through consultative dialogue. Mr. Tiktik will therefore get in touch with the parties directly.”

The ministry also asked the union to suspend its planned industrial action while the consultations take place.

“The Union is asked to call off the intended strike and await the outcome of the envisaged consultations, as the dispute resolution mechanism has already been set in motion,” the letter added.

Nurses Say Strike Will Continue

KNUNM said the appointment of a conciliator does not change its position, insisting that the nationwide strike continues.

In an update issued on August 5, the union said the Ministry of Labour had initiated a consultative dialogue process but maintained that nurses and midwives would remain on strike until further notice.

“The Ministry of Labour has appointed Raphael E. Tiktik as the National Conciliator to facilitate engagement on our core national demands,” the union said.

The union added, “While the Ministry has initiated this consultative dialogue mechanism, the position of the Union remains firm that the strike by Nurses and Midwives continues across all the 47 County Governments.”

Also Read: Nurses Issue Fresh Nationwide Strike Update, Reveal Next Course of Action 

Union Calls for Unity

The union urged all its members to remain united and continue observing the strike until official communication is issued by the General Secretary.

“All members are requested to stand in solidarity until directed otherwise by the General Secretary. We remain committed to resolving our critical grievances as raised in the Strike Notice,” the statement said.

The union further encouraged members to remain patient as the conciliation process begins.

“Stay strong, stay united, and await further official instructions from the Union’s Head Office,” the statement read.

Also Read: Gachagua Suffers Blow as Mt. Kenya Parties Reject Calls to Dissolve and Join DCP

Key Issues Raised by the Union

In its strike notice, the union listed several grievances, including:

• Failure to negotiate and conclude the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
• Failure to provide an implementation matrix for the 2017 Return-to-Work Agreement
• Delayed payment and permanent employment letters for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff despite Treasury funding
• Failure to implement career guidelines for nursing personnel.
• Failure by the Kisii County Government to reinstate 46 nurses who were dismissed in 2021 while on duty.

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Photo of Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Alfred Mutua during the presiding over the opening of the 23rd World Social Work and Social Development at KICC on June 36
PHOTO/Mutua/X