Nurses union issues strike threat over allowances, contract workers

Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako. [File, Standard]

The healthcare system in Kenya is once again on the brink of paralysis as nurses threaten to go on strike, accusing the government of failing to honour its commitments. The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has announced plans to begin industrial action on January 13, 2025, unless the national and county governments address their demands.

Strike notices have already been issued to all 47 counties, with nurses in Uasin Gishu County withdrawing from hospitals on Monday.

“The union is deeply concerned about the persistent injustices and systemic failures affecting nurses and midwives in Kenya. Despite their critical role in healthcare, nurses continue to face discrimination, unfulfilled agreements, and inequitable treatment,” said Seth Panyako, the union’s Secretary-General.

The planned strike is expected to exacerbate the challenges facing the healthcare system, leaving thousands of patients without vital care.

“We are telling Kenyans that there are many reasons pushing nurses to strike because the government has failed to act,” Panyako added.

One of the key demands is the absorption of 2,700 nurses, currently employed on contract under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme, into permanent and pensionable roles. These nurses were recruited during the Covid-19 pandemic to bolster the healthcare system.

“A major issue is the discrimination within the UHC programme. Since its inception, it has marginalised nurses, especially in terms of pay and employment conditions,” Panyako explained.

The union argues that the failure to convert the nurses into permanent positions over the past five years contravenes labour laws and policies. “We demand that the government convert UHC nurses into permanent and pensionable roles by the end of January. If this is not done, we will proceed with our strike on January 13,” he stated.

In 2020, the government recruited 9,000 health workers, some of whom have since been absorbed into permanent positions. Despite the delays, Panyako insisted that the government has the financial resources to employ the remaining workers permanently. “For instance, the Ministry allocated Sh6.8 billion for gratuities and Sh4 billion for contracts, totalling Sh11 billion,” he noted.

Union chairman Joseph Ngwasi said, “We have been patient with the government. Other cadres have gone on strike, but it has taken too long to implement some of the issues raised. UHC cannot progress without addressing the needs of nurses, who are the backbone of the sector. We cannot claim to achieve UHC while ignoring the human resources.”

Ngwasi also highlighted that nurses work in critical areas, such as theatres, alongside other health professionals who receive better pay. He noted that many nurses are forced to pay for healthcare out of their own pockets, as they lack medical cover.

“The delay in addressing our demands leaves us with no option but to down tools,” Ngwasi added.

Nurses also accuse both county and national governments of failing to honour the 2017 Return to Work Formula, which ended a nationwide strike. Under the agreement, nurses were to receive a nursing allowance of Sh30,000, up from Sh20,000, and a uniform allowance of Sh25,000, up from Sh10,000. This agreement has yet to be fulfilled.

Promotions have also been a contentious issue, with county governments failing to implement them, leaving many nurses stagnating in the same job groups. The union also expressed frustration over the lack of recognition for nurses who have pursued further education to specialise in various healthcare fields.

While the Kenya Kwanza administration has expressed support for the actualisation of UHC, the union has pointed out the shortage of nurses to drive its success. The government had pledged to employ 20,000 health workers to address this gap and advance UHC.