The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has issued a seven-day nationwide strike notice, setting the stage for a major disruption in public healthcare after warning that nurses and midwives in all 47 county governments will stop working from July 29, 2026, unless long-standing labour disputes are resolved.
The union said the planned industrial action comes after years of failed engagements with the government and county administrations over employment concerns that have remained unresolved despite repeated negotiations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, KNUNM said it had formally notified the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors (CoG), the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the Ministry of Public Service, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and all 47 county governments of the planned strike.
Although the union welcomed efforts by the Health Cabinet Secretary and other national stakeholders to secure Sh8.6 billion for the absorption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff, it said several key issues affecting nurses and midwives remain unresolved.
"Following over a decade of unresolved systemic labour disputes, unfulfilled pledges, and the continuous exploitation of healthcare professionals, our members have exhausted their patience," the statement read.
The union warned that unless the outstanding issues are addressed within the next seven days, nursing and midwifery services in county public health facilities across the country will be suspended.
"Following over a decade of unresolved systemic labour disputes, unfulfilled pledges, and the continuous exploitation of healthcare professionals, our members have exhausted their patience," the statement read.
It added that if no action is taken, "a total nationwide withdrawal of nursing and midwifery services will commence on 29th July, 2026, at 00:01 AM."
Among the union's main demands is the conclusion of the centralized 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which it says has been delayed by the Council of Governors, preventing nurses from accessing improved terms of service and fair pay.
KNUNM is also calling for the implementation of the November 2017 Return-to-Work Agreement through a clear implementation matrix, permanent and pensionable employment for UHC workers following the Treasury's budget allocation, implementation of career guidelines for nurses approved by the PSC in March 2025, and the reinstatement of 46 nurses dismissed by Kisii County in 2021.
On the UHC programme, the union said it had learnt that the Ministry of Health had transferred the UHC payroll back to the Department of Medical Services and granted the affected workers permanent and pensionable terms.
It urged the ministry to retain the payroll permanently and deploy the workers to national referral hospitals that continue to face severe staffing shortages.
KNUNM General Secretary Seth Panyako directed branch officials across the country to begin mobilising members for what he described as a prolonged industrial action if the authorities fail to respond to the union's demands.
"As General Secretary, I am directing all our branch officials across the country to begin the full-scale mobilization of our members. Every nurse and midwife within County Public Health Facilities must prepare for a prolonged industrial action if the concerned parties choose to remain silent," he said.
He added that the union would "remain on strike until every single issue raised is fully and satisfactorily addressed by the concerned parties."
The union also apologised to Kenyans for the disruption the strike is expected to cause but maintained that poor working conditions continue to threaten the quality and safety of healthcare services.
"To the Kenyan public, we regret the immense disruption and suffering this impending action will inevitably cause to public medical facilities across the nation. However, a demotivated, unprotected, and underpaid nursing workforce is a direct threat to safe patient care," the statement said.
KNUNM said it remains ready to engage in talks with the government but warned that it would "no longer accept empty political rhetoric," urging the concerned authorities to resolve the pending issues before the strike begins on July 29.