Services Disrupted as KNH Nurses Strike

Nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital have downed their tools over the government’s failure to implement the 2017 return-to-work formula, sparking a major disruption at the country’s largest referral facility.

The strike, led by the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), began on Monday, April 13, 2026, after what union officials describe as years of unfulfilled promises. Nurses are protesting a range of long-standing grievances, including delayed salaries, non-remittance of statutory deductions, and lack of pension payments.

KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako said many nurses have been stuck on temporary contracts for several years, while newly hired staff enjoy better terms. He termed the situation unfair and demoralising, warning that nurses have lost patience.

At the heart of the dispute is the Return-to-Work Formula signed on November 2, 2017, which was meant to address key issues such as pay, job security, and working conditions following previous nationwide strikes. However, the union argues that critical aspects of the agreement remain unimplemented nearly a decade later.

The industrial action is expected to severely affect services at the hospital, with patients likely to face delays and reduced access to care. KNUN has warned that the strike could escalate if urgent measures are not taken to resolve the standoff.

Hospital management has previously cited financial constraints as a major challenge affecting salary payments and staff welfare, but union leaders insist that the government must honour its commitments.

The latest strike underscores ongoing labour tensions in Kenya’s he