Kenya: Nurses Reject 'Duress' Claim, Vow to Continue Strike Into Fifth Week

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has declared that it will extend the nationwide nurses' strike into its fifth week, insisting that the only way to end the industrial action is for the government and the Council of Governors to sign and implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). KNUNM National Chairperson Joseph Gwosi appealed for President William Ruto's involvement following an alleged attack on nurses during a protest in Kisii.

The union has confirmed that negotiations had resolved the issue of nurses on contract under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, with affected workers beginning to receive letters confirming their permanent employment. The main outstanding issue remains the contract of working, known as the CBA. The KNUNM estimates that implementing the CBA would cost approximately Sh5.9 billion, which the union believes the government can afford.

Gwosi criticized the government's refusal to cover the cost of the agreement while simultaneously implementing salary reviews for other public officers. The nurses' union also raised concerns about inadequate protection during a demonstration in Kisii, where nurses were allegedly confronted by individuals wielding crude weapons, and accused police officers of failing to safeguard them.