Nurses are set to resume work after their union reached an agreement with county governments, ending a 43-day strike that disrupted healthcare services across the country.
The agreement was reached after a meeting between the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN).
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, September 9, CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi confirmed that the two sides had signed a Return to Work Formula (RTWF).
Abdullahi said the dispute had largely centred on the failure to implement the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which had remained a major concern for nurses.
“We know nurses have been on strike for 43 days. It was because of the non-implementation of the 2017 CBA. We now have a RTWF,” he stated.
The nurses had also raised concerns over the delayed conclusion of the CBA, their failure to be included in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) payroll with permanent and pensionable terms, and the refusal by Kisii County to reinstate nurses who had been relieved of their duties.
Under the new agreement, Abdullahi said UHC staff would be employed on permanent and pensionable terms based on Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) rates from July 1, 2026.
He explained that county governments had agreed to absorb UHC workers on condition that gratuity provisions in their contracts were removed.
This means their compensation would instead consist of regular salaries and other benefits.
Abdullahi also said the CoG would work on career guidelines for nurses, which would be adopted within 45 days.
“CoG will coordinate a model of career guidelines to be adopted within 45 days. Not later than 25 hours upon execution of the Return to Work Formula,” he added.
CoG Health Committee Chairperson and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir welcomed the agreement, noting that prolonged strikes affect patients who depend on public hospitals for treatment.
“When a strike occurs, those affected are not the ones involved in the strike but millions of Kenyans. The issues were signed in 2017. We are trying to look at today’s status and see what is applicable,” he remarked.
KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako also called for future disputes to be addressed through negotiations rather than strikes.
“Going on strike is not what everyone wants. Going forward, we should resolve issues without going on strike especially the health sector,” Panyako noted.
The strike had affected healthcare services in several counties, with nurses also staging demonstrations and camping at the CoG offices while pushing for improved allowances and better working conditions.
On Tuesday, Abdullahi had disclosed that county governments had offered to increase the nurses’ risk allowance to Ksh.8,000 and uniform allowance by Ksh.5,000.
“Through the efforts of our health committee, I can report that we finally have a deal if they do not change their mind until the deal is signed. We offered them an increase in their risk allowance to Ksh.8,000 and we also offered them an increase of Ksh.5,000 in uniform allowance,” Abdullahi stated.
