Kisii, Kenya – Health services across Kisii County have ground to a halt as nurses began an indefinite strike on Monday, August 11, 2025, citing the county government’s failure to honor financial obligations under collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
Table of Contents
Core Grievances Behind the Strike
- Unremitted Statutory Deductions:
- Salaries deducted for loans, union dues, and other financial commitments have not been forwarded to respective institutions.
- Unpaid Allowances:
- Uniform allowances and other benefits outlined in CBAs remain outstanding.
- Failed Negotiations:
- County officials have allegedly ignored conciliatory talks despite repeated union efforts.
“We’ve shown patience, but the county’s inaction leaves us no choice,” a Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) official stated during a press briefing in Kisii town.
Nationwide Strike Looms
The Kisii strike precedes a planned national walkout by nurses from August 8, as announced by the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM). Key issues include:
- Unimplemented 2017 CBA after a collapsed 30-day reconciliation period.
- Arbitrary revocation of 306 nursing internship postings by the Ministry of Health.
“The Council of Governors lacks goodwill to resolve these delays,” said KNUNM Deputy Secretary General Maurice Opetu, urging CS Aden Duale to review the intern postings.
Impact on Healthcare
- Public hospitals in Kisii are operating at skeletal capacity, with critical services suspended.
- Patients report being turned away, exacerbating healthcare access challenges.
County & National Response
- Kisii County has yet to issue an official statement.
- Ministry of Health faces mounting pressure to avert the nationwide strike through urgent dialogue.
Why This Matters:
- Highlights systemic failures in county-level labor agreements.
- Risks a full-blown healthcare crisis if the national strike proceeds.
“Until our dues are paid and CBAs respected, services remain withdrawn,” nurses vowed.
Next Steps:
- KNUN demands immediate county engagement.
- KNUNM prepares for August 8 nationwide action unless CoG and Ministry of Health intervene.
Key Quotes:
- “Loans, union dues—nothing is being remitted. How do we survive?” — Kisii nurse
- “The CoG’s inaction forces this strike.” — Maurice Opetu, KNUNM
Background:
- Kisii’s strike mirrors 2022 nationwide nurse walkouts over similar CBA breaches.
- The 2017 CBA promised better pay, allowances, and working conditions but remains partially implemented.
Updates expected as negotiations unfold.
