Nurses end 43-day strike after deal with counties

 

Nurses have ended a 43-day nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with county governments that raises two allowances and puts Universal Health Coverage staff on permanent and pensionable terms. The deal also gives the union and governors 45 days to resolve outstanding pay and career disputes.

 

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives called off the strike on Wednesday after talks with the Council of Governors, with secretary general Seth Panyako directing nurses to return to work immediately and within 24 hours.

 

The agreement increases the monthly risk allowance by KSh8,000 and the uniform allowance by KSh5,000, a combined increase of KSh13,000. The allowances will be reviewed again in 2027, according to CoG chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi.

 

Panyako said funding for the first phase had already been allocated and should be implemented immediately.

 

All 47 county governments have also committed to putting UHC staff on permanent and pensionable terms from 1 July 2026, using rates approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

 

The agreement removes gratuity from the workers’ new employment terms, while the National Government will meet gratuity obligations accumulated under their previous contracts.

 

The union and governors now have 45 days to resolve outstanding issues under the 2017 return-to-work agreement and draw up model career progression guidelines for nursing personnel.

 

It also provides for non-victimization of nurses who took part in the strike and the resolution of a dispute involving 46 nurses dismissed by Kisii county government in 2021.

 

“Moving forward, we would urge the employer to engage before we get a deadlock. And we are open for dialogue,” Panyako said.

 

The strike had disrupted nursing services in public hospitals and health centers, with other health workers taking on additional duties.

 

Doctors had threatened to join the dispute after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union gave the government seven days to address the increased workload faced by its members. The union said doctors were being forced to cover nursing duties as vacancies remained unfilled.

 

The nurses’ action had centred on delays in the 2025–29 collective bargaining agreement, implementation of the 2017 return-to-work agreement, employment terms for UHC staff and the lack of a uniform career progression framework. The union had also pressed for a resolution to the Kisii dismissals.

 

The end of the strike brings nurses back to public facilities, but leaves the union and county governments with 45 days to turn the agreement into an implemented settlement.