Nyamira nurses to strike over unpaid wages

By Daisy Okiring

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Nyamira branch has announced a countywide nurses’ strike set to begin at midnight on Tuesday, May 13, if urgent concerns are not addressed by the county government.

Union officials made the announcement on Monday, May 12, citing prolonged salary arrears, failure to implement promotions, and worsening working conditions. Some nurses, they noted, have gone up to ten months without pay, impacting their ability to travel to work or provide adequate care.

“We are forced to down tools because our dignity and well-being have been ignored,” one union leader stated. “We demand immediate promotion for qualified nurses and redesignation for those with advanced degrees.”

Talks with County officials stall again

Despite numerous engagements with the Nyamira County administration, union leaders said the government has remained non-committal, prompting the planned industrial action. Public health services across the county may be crippled from Tuesday night unless the issues are resolved.

KNUN also emphasized that if the county fails to act swiftly, the strike will escalate, affecting service delivery in major health facilities and exposing residents to potential health risks.

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National healthcare frustrations intensify

The Nyamira case reflects a broader crisis in Kenya’s devolved health sector. In April, KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako warned that a nationwide strike could be imminent due to counties failing to remit statutory deductions and mismanaging healthcare funding.

In Mombasa, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah urged the Ministry of Health to take firmer steps to address the repeated medical strikes and funding delays across the country.

As of now, Nyamira County has not issued a formal statement responding to the union’s demands.

Since the onset of devolution in 2013, Kenya has faced a lot of challenges in streamlining the health sector.