Nurses Protest in Nairobi Over Working Conditions
Dozens of nurses have taken to the streets of Nairobi to protest what they describe as the government’s failure to resolve long-standing labour grievances affecting healthcare workers.
Wearing white uniforms and carrying placards, the nurses gathered to demand action on issues surrounding their employment conditions and a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Seth Panayko, Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses, said the dispute has continued for several years, with disagreements involving the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Council of Governors.
According to Panayko, the union has been involved in discussions with authorities since 2017 but has yet to reach a lasting resolution. He said the nurses were visiting the SRC to seek clarification and request a letter of no objection regarding their CBA.
The protest comes as nurses continue a nationwide strike that began in late July. The industrial action has significantly affected public healthcare services, with concerns growing over the impact on patients who depend on government hospitals and other public health facilities.
Collins Otieno Ajwang, president of Kenya’s National Nurses Association, warned that the strike had entered its 37th day and was placing considerable pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
He expressed concern about the consequences of the prolonged dispute, particularly for patients who may be unable to receive timely treatment because of disruptions in public hospitals.
Other healthcare professionals have also called for urgent intervention to end the standoff. Joseph Chebii, secretary-general of the clinical officers’ association, urged the unions, government officials and other stakeholders to return to negotiations and find a solution.
Chebii warned that continued delays could result in avoidable deaths and further losses, stressing the need for all parties to work together to resolve the dispute.
The disagreement has remained unresolved despite discussions between the nurses’ union and the Council of Governors. The continued impasse has prompted nurses to intensify their demonstrations while maintaining their strike.
The dispute highlights wider concerns over working conditions, labour agreements and remuneration within Kenya’s public healthcare sector.
As the strike continues, pressure is mounting on government authorities and other stakeholders to reach an agreement with the nurses. Healthcare workers are calling for meaningful negotiations that can address their grievances while allowing essential public health services to return to normal.
For patients and families relying on public healthcare facilities, a swift resolution remains increasingly important as the industrial action continues to disrupt services across the country.
