KNUNM Deputy General Secretary Maurice Opetu addressing the media in Kisumu/FAITH MATETE
Nurses across Kenya are set to down their tools from midnight on August 8, 2025, following what the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) terms years of neglect, broken promises, and stalled talks with county governments.
Speaking during a press conference in Kisumu on Friday, KNUNM Deputy Secretary-General Maurice Opetu said the decision comes after eight years of unresolved grievances that have left nurses frustrated and overwhelmed.
“We have been tossed around between the Council of Governors, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and individual counties. Every time we seek solutions, we are sent back and forth. Nurses have had enough,” said Opetu.
The strike notice was issued on May 29, prompting the Ministry of Labour to appoint conciliators under Section 66 of the Labour Relations Act and initiate a 30-day negotiation window. But with the deadline looming, Opetu said there has been no tangible progress.
“Reports from counties indicate that none of them has made real efforts to address our demands. There’s a general fear among county officials to act without direct permission from governors, yet these same officials admit our issues are solvable,” he said. “Eight years of promises, no action.”
One of the union’s key grievances is the failure by county governments to implement the SRC salary review structure issued on September 12, 2024. The policy was meant to harmonise pay across national and county levels. While the national government implemented it, counties remain silent.
“We are demanding that county governments implement this policy without delay,” Opetu said.
The union also accused counties of failing to conclude Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), despite several return-to-work agreements being signed in the past.
“We have waited for years for career progression guidelines and proper job structures. The counties are not just failing to negotiate; they are refusing to implement what has already been agreed upon,” he said.
The worsening staffing crisis is another concern. According to the union, rural health facilities are severely understaffed. In some dispensaries, one nurse handles all responsibilities. Health centres that should have eight nurses often have only two or three, and wards with over 40 patients are managed by just four or five nurses.
“Nurses are not machines. They go on leave, they get sick, and they need rest like everyone else. Yet they are being overburdened with no support,” Opetu said.
He warned that unless counties act swiftly to recruit more nurses, services will grind to a halt come August 8.
“This overwork is pushing many of our nurses to the edge. They are battling mental health issues, depression, and burnout,” he said. “We cannot continue sacrificing our physical and mental health to keep a broken system running. If the governors believe there is no crisis, let them be deployed to health facilities and serve wananchi themselves.”
Opetu confirmed the strike will proceed under the authority of the union's Secretary-General. But he noted there is still a final seven-day window for dialogue if authorities act decisively.
“If the governors, Ministry of Health, SRC, Council of Governors, and Ministry of Labour care about continuity of services and the welfare of suffering citizens, they must act now,” he said.
Calling on all nurses to join the strike in solidarity, Opetu also appealed to the religious community to pray for nurses’ strength and well-being.
“This is no longer just about salaries. It is about dignity, fairness, mental wellness, and safety for our health workers. If nothing is done, then it’s solidarity forever.”
