Kenya nurses' strike enters fourth week, disrupting maternity services

A nationwide nurses' strike in Kenya has entered its fourth week, severely disrupting public health services. The industrial action, which began on July 29, has placed significant pressure on maternity and child health services, leaving expectant mothers and young children at risk as many county hospitals and dispensaries have halted new admissions.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has identified several core grievances, including disputes over career progression guidelines and the delayed absorption of Universal Healthcare (UHC) workers into permanent positions. While there has been some movement regarding UHC staff following a pledge by President William Ruto, the union maintains that the primary remaining obstacle is the implementation of the 2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

To address disagreements over career guidelines, a committee involving the Council of Governors and the KNUNM is being established. As public facilities face paralysis, many patients are being forced to seek more expensive care at private or mission hospitals, while Kenyatta National Hospital has reported an increase in patient numbers due to the service disruptions in county-level facilities.