KNH, Nurses’ Union Sign CBA to Improve Staff Welfare and Strengthen Healthcare Delivery

Story by Violet Kerubo & Monyonge O’kebati

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) management and the nurses’ union have signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) aimed at improving nurses’ terms and conditions of service, strengthening industrial relations and enhancing healthcare delivery.
The agreement follows an extended negotiation process involving representatives from the hospital’s management and the union, with both sides expressing optimism that the document will provide a framework for addressing staff welfare concerns and promoting a harmonious working environment.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the hospital’s leadership described nurses as the backbone of KNH and the wider national healthcare system, noting their critical role in caring for patients throughout their hospital journey.
The leadership emphasised that nurses are central to patient care, from admission to discharge, and play an indispensable role in supporting patients, welcoming newborns and providing care to people at the end of life.
The hospital management said the signing marked an important milestone following lengthy negotiations that required patience, compromise and continued engagement between the two parties.
Agreement Covers Promotions, Allowances and Leave
The CBA addresses several human resource matters affecting nurses, including appointments, promotions, special allowances, meal allowances and leave arrangements.
According to the hospital’s leadership, the agreement is intended to provide a framework for progressively improving employees’ terms and conditions of service while ensuring the institution continues to deliver quality healthcare to Kenyans.
Management noted that some of the issues addressed in the document had existed for years, requiring sustained engagement to reach a common understanding.
The hospital also commended the negotiating teams for maintaining dialogue despite disagreements on contentious issues, saying their willingness to return to the negotiating table had helped move the process forward.
The leadership expressed confidence that continued cooperation between management and the union would support the implementation of the agreement and strengthen staff morale.
Union Commends Management for Open-Door Policy
The nurses’ union leadership welcomed the agreement, thanking the hospital’s chief executive officer and management team for their willingness to engage with employee representatives throughout the negotiation process.
The union said management’s open-door policy had helped address human resource concerns affecting its members, including through communication outside formal meetings when necessary.
The union also recognised the contributions of the negotiating teams from both sides, particularly the officials involved in coordinating discussions and resolving contentious issues.
The union leadership described the CBA as a progressive document that would guide engagement between employees and management and create opportunities for further constructive dialogue.
It also called for a management-union retreat, proposed for November, to strengthen cooperation and address other workplace concerns.
Nurses’ Pay and Benefits Compared with Other Hospitals
During the ceremony, the union leadership expressed optimism that full implementation of the agreement would improve the position of KNH nurses in relation to their counterparts at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The union said nurses at KNH had continued to experience disparities in their employment terms and welcomed the new agreement as a step towards addressing those concerns.
It urged both parties to look beyond the signing ceremony and focus on implementing the agreed provisions while maintaining industrial harmony.
The union further called for continued engagement on matters affecting patients, clients and communities that depend on services provided by the national referral hospital.
KNH Calls for Stronger Industrial Relations
The hospital’s leadership stressed that a constructive relationship between management and the union was essential for the effective delivery of healthcare services.
Officials observed that disagreements were inevitable during negotiations but said both parties had demonstrated a willingness to compromise and identify areas of common interest.
They added that industrial disputes in the health sector must be handled responsibly because disruptions can affect patients and the wider public.
The leadership urged the two parties to sustain their cordial relationship and work together to resolve future challenges without compromising service delivery.
The hospital was also presented as an example for other healthcare institutions, with officials saying successful employer-employee relations at KNH could encourage similar cooperation across the country.
Kenya’s Nursing Workforce and Healthcare Expansion
The discussions also highlighted the growing demand for nurses amid the expansion of healthcare training and hospital infrastructure in Kenya.
Speakers referred to the increasing number of students joining nursing programmes at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and universities, alongside government plans to establish additional national hospitals.
They said expanding the nursing workforce and improving its distribution across the country would be important in addressing staffing gaps and strengthening access to healthcare.
The officials also acknowledged opportunities for Kenyan nurses to work internationally, stressing the importance of maintaining professional standards and supporting the development of the nursing profession.
The speakers said continued collaboration among healthcare institutions, employers and unions would be necessary to address workforce challenges and improve service delivery.
Customer Care Remains a Priority
Beyond salaries and employment benefits, the ceremony highlighted the importance of professional conduct and customer care in healthcare facilities.
The union leadership called for renewed emphasis on customer care training for healthcare workers, particularly newly recruited staff, to improve patients’ experiences and strengthen public confidence in hospitals.
The speakers noted that quality healthcare depends not only on staffing levels and employment conditions but also on how patients are treated by healthcare professionals.
They urged nurses and other healthcare workers to maintain high standards of professionalism, compassion and accountability.
A New Chapter for KNH Management and Nurses
Both management and the union said the signing of the CBA should be viewed as the beginning of a new phase of cooperation rather than the conclusion of their engagement.
The hospital’s leadership reiterated its commitment to improving employee welfare while fulfilling its responsibility to provide healthcare services to Kenyans.
The union, meanwhile, pledged to continue working with management to support implementation of the agreement and address outstanding issues affecting nurses.
The ceremony concluded with calls for sustained dialogue, mutual understanding and a shared commitment to improving the working environment and the quality of healthcare services.
The parties expressed hope that the agreement would strengthen industrial harmony at Kenyatta National Hospital and contribute to more effective healthcare delivery across Kenya.