Kenyatta National Hospital has stepped in to ease tension over reports of a looming nurses’ strike, saying it is actively engaging the relevant parties to resolve outstanding issues affecting staff welfare and deductions.
In a statement released on April 12, 2026, Acting Chief Executive Officer Richard Lesiyampe said the hospital is already in discussions over concerns raised by the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), which mainly focus on delays in statutory and third-party deductions, as well as general staff welfare matters.
The hospital clarified that all staff salaries have been paid up to March 2026, adding that the delays being reported in remittances are part of structured payment processes within the wider public sector system.
KNH noted that its financial operations are largely dependent on reimbursements under national health financing arrangements, which affect the timing of some payments and remittances.
“Consequently, the timing of remittance processing is, in part, influenced by the broader national healthcare financing and reimbursement cycle,” Lesiyampe said.
The institution added that it is working closely with government bodies to improve and streamline the process so that all obligations are met within the set administrative and regulatory guidelines.
On pension matters, KNH said it continues to follow the established framework to ensure both employer and employee contributions are handled as required.
The hospital also pointed out progress in converting nurses and other healthcare workers from contract employment to permanent and pensionable terms, noting that discussions are still ongoing for unresolved cases.
Lesiyampe said the hospital remains open to dialogue with unions and other stakeholders in a bid to settle the issues amicably.
“As the country’s largest national referral and teaching hospital, KNH remains fully committed to the uninterrupted provision of specialized healthcare services to the public,” Lesiyampe said.