Nurses stage demonstrations in Nairobi as nationwide strike enters 40th day

Story  by Violet Kerubo

Nurses and midwives on Tuesday staged demonstrations in Nairobi to mark 40 days since the commencement of their nationwide strike, piling pressure on the government and county authorities to resolve their longstanding grievances.

The demonstrations, led by Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Secretary General Seth Panyako, began at Green Park Terminus, with the health workers marching towards the Council of Governors offices in Westlands.

The nurses are demanding the resolution of several outstanding issues, including the full implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), improved working conditions and the implementation of other agreements reached between the union, the national government and county governments.

The union had planned to mobilise approximately 9,400 nurses and midwives from all 47 counties for the Nairobi demonstration.

The protesters were expected to make a stop at Delta House, where they would present their grievances to representatives of the Council of Governors before returning to Green Park.

The demonstration comes as the nationwide nurses’ strike continues to affect the provision of healthcare services in public hospitals and other government health facilities across the country.

The prolonged industrial action has increased pressure on both the national government and county governments to find a lasting solution and bring the strike to an end.

During the demonstrations, the health workers also expressed solidarity with nurses in Kisii County, who they said were facing threats of dismissal amid a dispute with the county administration.

The protesters criticised the alleged threat to sack striking nurses in Kisii, calling for dialogue and a negotiated solution to the dispute.

They said disciplinary action against nurses exercising their rights would further escalate tensions and urged Kisii Governor Simba Arati and the union to engage in talks to resolve the matter.

The nurses vowed to continue pushing for the implementation of their agreements and better working conditions until their grievances are addressed.

The ongoing strike has continued to place the country’s public healthcare system under significant strain, with patients in several counties facing disruptions in accessing services as the standoff between health workers and employers persists.