Nakuru nurses strike: Hundreds down tools over unpaid July salaries

Nurses in Nakuru County are on strike, demanding payment of unpaid July salaries and full implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, according to their union, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN). During a protest on August 20, 2026, KNUN Nakuru chairman Wilson Kurgat expressed frustration over the delayed salary disbursement, questioning where the funds meant for Nakuru had gone.

"What we heard from the President, he said clearly that all the moneys have been sent to the counties. And now we are wondering, where are the salaries for healthcare workers in Nakuru County?" he inquired. The nurses, who form the backbone of the healthcare system, raised additional concerns about the delayed implementation of career progression guidelines and other longstanding welfare issues.

KNUN Nakuru secretary Rose Master emphasized the critical role nurses play in hospitals, stating, "Hatuna what we call career guidelines, and we are wondering what is really happening? We believe nurses ndio backbone ya hospitali. Mkikuja hospitali, the first person mnakutana ni nurse." However, she admitted they would not return to work until the county addressed their grievances.

This strike is part of a broader nationwide dispute over employment terms, remuneration, and agreement implementation. Key demands of the union include the implementation of the 2017 Return-to-Work Agreement, the 2025–2029 CBA, permanent and pensionable employment for UHC-programme nurses, and career progression guidelines. The ongoing dispute has disrupted healthcare services, forcing some patients to seek treatment in private facilities or postpone appointments.