Nurses’ strike: 458 pregnant women, 75 newborns reported dead

The ongoing nurses' strike in Kenya has resulted in the deaths of 75 pregnant women and 458 perinatal cases in the past month, according to the National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK). President Collins Ajwang reported these figures, which were recorded nationally according to the EWENE dashboard. Speaking at the association's offices in Kenyatta National Hospital on September 3, 2026, Ajwang emphasized that the situation was worsening rather than improving.

He was joined by representatives from other health professional bodies, including the Kenya Progressive Nurses Association, Kenya Paediatric Association, Kenya Clinical Officers Association, Midwives Association of Kenya, and the Kenya Medical Association. Their joint appearance highlighted the extensive impact of the 37-day strike on the wider health sector.

The number of deaths continued to rise as the strike entered its 37th day; eight maternal deaths, 16 neonatal deaths, and 55 perinatal deaths were reported between Monday and Wednesday. The previous week saw 22 maternal deaths, 44 neonatal deaths, and 130 perinatal deaths. The counties with the highest numbers of deaths, according to NNAK, include Kisumu, Nakuru, Kakamega, and Kajiado.

Ajwang warned that the crisis was not easing and that the full impact could be even greater due to fewer women seeking care in health facilities. NNAK is working to obtain updated facility-level data to determine how many women are now delivering outside the formal health system without the necessary medical support. The association aims to release this information once verified.

The 37-day strike has severely affected public health facilities nationwide, as nurses, who make up nearly 70% of Kenya's healthcare workforce, are central to service delivery in all 47 counties. The prolonged disruption is affecting routine, emergency, maternal, neonatal, and specialized care, as well as the training of future healthcare workers.

Health professional bodies urged the national government, county governments, unions, and other stakeholders to resolve the dispute urgently, warning that every additional day of delay was costing lives.