April 15, 2026 — A two-day strike by nurses and midwives at Kenyatta National Hospital has been called off following hours of negotiations between hospital management and the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives.
In a statement issued Tuesday, April 14, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirms that the nurses signed a return-to-work formula addressing their key concerns.
“The industrial action by nurses at KNH has been officially called off following hours of intensive and constructive negotiations,” Duale states.
The agreement covers several areas, including improved medical cover, structured promotions, measures to address workload challenges, and the gradual conversion of contract nurses to permanent and pensionable terms.
Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (2025–2029), the parties agree on a uniform allowance of KSh 25,000 and a Nursing Service Allowance of KSh 30,000. A leave allowance equivalent to one-third of the basic salary, capped at KSh 50,000, is also approved.
Additional benefits include a health risk allowance of KSh 5,000 and an extraneous allowance in line with Salaries and Remuneration Commission guidelines.
The government also commits to releasing KSh 364 million to recruit 100 new nurses at KNH, while the hospital board announces plans to engage an additional 100 Health Care Assistants to ease the workload.
On delayed third-party deductions, the hospital agrees to begin processing remittances on the 15th of every month starting the next financial year, with the March remittance scheduled for April 23.
The agreement further provides that all retiring staff will receive their pensions on time.
The deal brings to an end a strike that begins on Monday, April 13, and disrupts services at Kenya’s largest referral hospital, leaving patients stranded.
Nurses had raised concerns over what they describe as unfair and unsustainable employment conditions, including long-term use of temporary contracts and heavy workloads. KNH currently has about 2,300 nurses, below the recommended 2,800, with some attending to as many as 40 patients per ward.
Even as services resume at KNH, pressure may shift to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where nurses have issued a 21-day strike notice.