The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has extended its strike notice by a month, setting a new start date of August 3, 2025, for the anticipated industrial action — a move that signals deepening frustrations in the country’s health sector.
Highlights:
- Nurses and midwives have postponed their planned strike to August 3, 2025.
- The union extended its strike notice by 30 days to allow more dialogue.
- Core issues include unpaid allowances and poor working conditions.
- The government has yet to meet key demands despite repeated negotiations.
- A strike could cripple essential healthcare services nationwide.
Main Story:
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has announced a 30-day extension to its earlier strike notice, giving authorities until August 3 to meet their demands. The union, which represents thousands of nurses and midwives across the country, said the delay is aimed at allowing more time for engagement with government officials.
At the heart of the looming strike are longstanding issues such as unpaid allowances, understaffing, delayed promotions, and lack of job security for contract nurses. Union leaders argue that despite previous promises, the government has failed to deliver tangible solutions — leaving healthcare workers overworked and underpaid.
The union’s leadership warned that if their grievances are not addressed by the new deadline, they will have no choice but to proceed with the nationwide strike. This would severely disrupt services in public hospitals, especially in rural areas where nurses and midwives form the backbone of healthcare delivery.
Health officials have yet to respond publicly to the new strike timeline, but stakeholders are urging both parties to return to the negotiation table before the situation escalates. The looming industrial action comes at a time when the healthcare system is already stretched by resource constraints and growing patient loads.
When those who care for the nation fall silent, who will answer the emergency call?
