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Saturday, 8 August 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 8 August 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives

Also known as: KNUNM

Labor union representing nurses and midwives in Kenya, leading nationwide strike since July 29, 2026 over collective bargaining agreements and pay disputes.

2026-07-232026-08-08

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. August 2026
  2. The Standard

    Addressing journalists before the meeting, KNUNM Deputy Secretary General Maurice Opetu said nurses would remain on strike until the outstanding issues were resolved.

    Governors threatens action against striking nurses as union presses governors over CBA
  3. Citizen Digital

    Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Deputy Secretary General Maurice Odhiambo Opetu said: “The national government through the mother ministry has provided funding for paying UHC nurses on PnP but Governors have refused to take and adopt UHC Staff.” The Governors

    Healthcare crisis deepens as nurses defy Governors' call to end ongoing strike
  4. The Standard

    Subscribe to our newsletterThe Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) on Tuesday maintained that the industrial action remained in force following a meeting with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and Kenyatta National Hospital management.The meeting focu

    Nurses' strike leaves patients waiting for hours as hospitals seek ways to cope
  5. The Standard

    Justice Monica Mbaru of the Employment and Labour Court in Mombasa issued orders temporarily stopping the nationwide nurse strike that commenced on July 29, 2026, and ordered the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) to direct its members back to work.Justice Mbaru

    High Court orders striking nurses back to work
  6. The Standard

    The Employment and Labour Relations Court on Monday ordered the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) to direct its members employed by Mombasa County and the other 46 county governments to resume duty immediately.

    Striking nurses defy court order
  7. The Standard

    While noting the nurses’ concerns, the society called for engagements between the National Government, County Governments and the Council of Governors and the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) on the implementation of mutually agreed commitments.The nurses lamen

    Gynecologists have raised alarm over nurses strike as maternal care suffers
  8. The Standard

    The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) yesterday dismissed claims by some county officials that the industrial action has been called off.Deputy Secretary General Maurice Odhiambo said the strike, which began on July 29, remained firmly on course until the union’

    Nurses' strike enters crucial week as SRC, CoG meetings offer possible breakthrough
  9. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeThe Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has maintained that the nationwide nurses’ strike remains in force, warning members against returning to work following claims by some county officials that the industrial action has been called off.

    Nurses remain firm as union warns against calls to end strike
  10. The Standard

    The industrial action entered its third day, affecting public health facilities in counties including Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori as nurses under the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) pushed for implementation of the 2017 Return-to-Work Formula, signing o

    Hospitals struggle to cope as nurses strike disrupts services
  11. July 2026
  12. The Standard

    The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) said on Thursday, July 23, it would join Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers in industrial action if authorities fail to address unresolved labour issues, including collective bargaining rights, delayed promotions and th

    Why nurses are threatening a nationwide strike from July 29
Society

Governors declare nurses' strike illegal, warn action against workers

The News

The Council of Governors chairman Ahmed Abdullahi declared the ongoing nurses' strike illegal and warned that counties will take action against health workers who continue to stay away from duty despite court orders suspending the strike. Abdullahi said governors are already negotiating new Collective Bargaining Agreements with health unions and questioned why nurses had resorted to industrial action while talks were ongoing.

7 August 2026 · The Standard

Yesterday

  1. Governors declare nurses' strike illegal, warn action against workers

    The Council of Governors chairman Ahmed Abdullahi declared the ongoing nurses' strike illegal and warned that counties will take action against health workers who continue to stay away from duty despite court orders suspending the strike. Abdullahi said governors are already negotiating new Collective Bargaining Agreements with health unions and questioned why nurses had resorted to industrial action while talks were ongoing.

    7 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 6 August

  1. Nurses reject governors' call to end strike over pay agreements

    Kenya's nurses have rejected the Council of Governors' appeal to end their strike, insisting they will continue protesting unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreements, delayed promotions, and staffing shortages until formal return-to-work agreements are signed.

    6 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 5 August

  1. Nurses' strike creates long patient waiting times at public hospitals

    An ongoing nurses' strike has left patients waiting for hours at public hospitals with limited healthcare workers available. Student nurses from medical schools are helping fill gaps, but the volume of patients is overwhelming available staff.

    5 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. High Court orders striking nurses back to work nationwide

    Justice Monica Mbaru of the Employment and Labour Court in Mombasa has issued orders temporarily stopping the nationwide nurse strike that commenced on July 29, 2026, and ordered the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives to direct its members back to work immediately or face disciplinary action.

    5 August 2026 · The Standard

  3. Nurses continue strike despite court order to return

    A nationwide nurses' strike persisted on Wednesday after the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives defied a Monday court order from the Employment and Labour Relations Court directing them to resume duty at Mombasa County and 46 other county governments.

    5 August 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Gynecologists warn of maternal deaths risk amid nurses strike

    Kenya's obstetrical and gynaecological society has raised alarm over risks of maternal and child deaths as a nationwide nurses strike disrupts essential healthcare services, including at Kenyatta National Hospital. The strike centers on implementation of a collective bargaining agreement, salary arrears, career progression, and universal health coverage issues.

    4 August 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 2 August

  1. Nurses' strike continues into crucial week, talks scheduled

    The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives maintains its strike, begun July 29, remains ongoing despite some county officials' claims it has ended. Upcoming meetings with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and Council of Governors on a proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement could determine whether longstanding grievances move toward implementation.

    2 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. Nurses' strike continues; union rejects claims of suspension

    The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has maintained that the nationwide strike that began on July 29 remains in force, warning members against returning to work following claims by some county officials that the industrial action has been called off. The union says only its General Secretary has authority to end the strike, and nurses will return to work once the Council of Governors and Salaries and Remuneration Commission sign and implement a collective bargaining agreement.

    2 August 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 1 August

  1. Nurses strike enters third day, disrupts hospital services nationwide

    A nationwide nurses' strike forced some public hospitals to shut down and others to operate with reduced staff, disrupting healthcare services across counties including Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives is pushing for implementation of the 2017 Return-to-Work Formula, signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement, nursing career guidelines, and resolution of Universal Health Coverage staff issues.

    1 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 23 July

  1. Nurses threaten nationwide strike from July 29

    The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives issued a seven-day strike notice on July 23, threatening to withdraw services nationwide from July 29 unless national and county governments resolve long-standing labour grievances including collective bargaining rights, delayed promotions, and absorption of UHC workers into permanent terms.

    23 July 2026 · The Standard

Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute