Also known as: KNUNM
Union representing Kenya's nurses and midwives, leading strike action in 2026 over implementation of collective bargaining agreement and worker compensation.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives
Every mention in the Kenyan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
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Capital News
NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 29 – Nursing officer interns are facing financial difficulties following delays in the payment of their July 2026 stipends, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has said. …
Nurses’ Union Demands Payment of July Stipends for InternsCapital News
… The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) says its members will withdraw their labour from 12:01am on November 9 if the hospital’s management fails to address their concerns within the stipulated period. …
Nurses Issue 21-Day Strike Notice to KUTRRH, Threaten November WalkoutThe Standard
… Nine days after the case was confirmed, no additional infections had been reported among healthcare workers or the wider population.The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives says that with adequate support, healthcare workers can contain the imported virus. …
Health workers praised over Ebola response, urged to stay vigilantCapital News
NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 12 – The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has defended nurses at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital amid complaints about patient care, while calling on authorities to address staffing shortages, congestion and other challenges aff …
Nurses defend Jaramogi Hospitals Colleagues amid patient care complaintsCapital News
NAIROBI, Kenya Sept 11 – Nurses in Siaya County have vowed to ignore the return-to-work order by the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Secretary General Seth Panyako, accusing their employer of failure to address critical grievances. …
Siaya nurses ignore Panyako, vow to continue with strikeThe Standard
KNUNM Secretary General Seth Panyako addresses the Press after signing a return-to-work agreement to end the nurses strike at Delta House in Nairobi on September 9, 2026. …
43 days of pain as nurses strike leaves 522 deadThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeKenya’s nurses have called off their 43-day nationwide strike after the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) and the Council of Governors agreed on a return-to-work formula. …
Nurses call off 43-day strike after return-to-work dealCapital News
… The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives says, their members will not return to work until outstanding commitments are honoured. …
Prolonged nurses strike exerts pressure on public healthcareCapital News
… However, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has maintained that the agreement is binding and has rejected claims that it is financially unsustainable. …
Ruto, Governors Set for Talks to End Nationwide Nurses’ StrikeCitizen Digital
… ide,” the Commission said.KNCHR called on the national and county governments to honour existing collective bargaining agreements with nurses and other health workers, including the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement.It also urged the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives …
KNCHR calls for urgent action as nurses’ strike disrupts health servicesThe Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has petitioned Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to pay outstanding July 2026 stipends for Nursing Officer Interns, citing financial hardship caused by the delays.
29 October 2026 · Capital News →
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has petitioned Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to pay outstanding July 2026 stipends for Nursing Officer Interns, citing financial hardship caused by the delays.
29 October 2026 · Capital News →
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has issued a 21-day strike notice to Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital, threatening labour withdrawal from November 9, 2026, unless management addresses demands including confirmation of locum nurses to permanent terms, payment of outstanding gratuities, finalisation of a collective bargaining agreement, and standardisation of locum rates.
15 October 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's health professionals have been praised for their training and response to an imported Ebola case, with no additional infections reported nine days after confirmation. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives says healthcare workers, properly trained to handle emerging infectious diseases, can contain the virus with adequate support.
14 October 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has defended nurses at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital against complaints about patient care, while calling on authorities to address staffing shortages, congestion, and heavy workloads affecting service delivery.
12 October 2026 · Capital News →
Nurses in Siaya County have rejected a return-to-work order from the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, vowing to continue their strike until the county addresses seven months of salary arrears and restoration of medical insurance benefits.
11 September 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's public health system was paralysed for 43 days by a nurses' strike, during which 522 deaths occurred. The KNUNM Secretary General signed a return-to-work agreement on September 9, 2026 to end the crisis.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's nurses have called off their 43-day nationwide strike after the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives and the Council of Governors agreed on a return-to-work formula. The agreement gives the two sides 45 days to conclude negotiations on the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement and commits county governments to employ UHC staff on permanent and pensionable terms from July 1, 2026.
9 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's public health system faces ongoing disruption as nurses continue striking, demanding implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement and addressing concerns over pay, staffing, and working conditions. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives says members will not return to work until outstanding commitments including payment of salary arrears and career progression improvements are honoured.
8 September 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto and governors are to hold talks on Monday to resolve the nationwide nurses' strike that has disrupted healthcare services. The meeting will focus on outstanding issues behind the industrial action, with the nurses' strike centred on implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
7 September 2026 · Capital News →
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has called for urgent intervention to end the nationwide nurses' strike, warning that service disruption is putting patients' lives at risk. The Commission reported 79 deaths between August 31 and September 2, comprising eight maternal, 16 neonatal, and 55 perinatal deaths, though it stressed these figures must be independently verified.
5 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has declared the 37-day nurses' strike a national public health and human rights crisis, citing a report of 79 deaths (8 maternal, 16 neonatal, 55 perinatal) between August 31 and September 2, and called for urgent government intervention to restore health services.
4 September 2026 · The Standard →
At least 83 maternal deaths and 513 perinatal deaths have been recorded during the ongoing nurses' strike, which began July 29. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives is demanding a letter of no objection from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and Council of Governors to resolve the dispute.
4 September 2026 · The Standard →
According to health professional associations, 79 patients have died across Kenya during the nurses' strike, including eight maternal deaths, 16 neonatal deaths and 55 perinatal deaths recorded between Monday and Wednesday this week. The professionals warn that the prolonged disruption is affecting operations, specialized care, hospital admissions, and clinical training for nursing and medical students.
3 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's nurses union says the nationwide strike will continue into its fifth week unless the government and Council of Governors sign and implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement, with CBA terms remaining the main unresolved issue despite progress on contract workers and career guidelines.
1 September 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's nurses union has dismissed the Council of Governors' assertion that their Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed under duress and is financially unsustainable, vowing to intensify strikes across the country until demands are met.
1 September 2026 · The Standard →
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged the Council of Governors, Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to quickly resolve outstanding issues in the ongoing nurses strike that has paralyzed healthcare services across the country.
31 August 2026 · The Standard →
During an IBEC session chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, counties agreed to absorb eligible UHC workers into their establishments on permanent and pensionable terms, with the transition financed through County Governments Additional Allocations for 2026/27. The Ministry of Health will be reimbursed for payments made to workers in July and August, and the Public Service Commission will issue uniform guidelines to ensure consistent implementation across counties.
31 August 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers says their strike remains in full force until substantive grievances are addressed. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has notified police of planned demonstrations on September 3, 2026, with 9,400 participants from the 47 counties marching to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and Council of Governors headquarters.
31 August 2026 · The Standard →
Health workers in Nakuru County continue a strike over the county government's delay in signing a Collective Bargaining Agreement addressing their welfare and working conditions, causing disrupted services in public health facilities. Union leaders say the government has failed to act despite a court order for workers to return and threats of further staff withdrawals.
27 August 2026 · The Standard →
Nurses and midwives, on strike for 29 days, are demanding county governments implement the 2017 return-to-work formula, adopt career progression guidelines, and provide permanent and pensionable terms for Universal Health Coverage workers. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives says there will be no return to work until these key demands are addressed.
26 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's nurses' strike has reached its 28th day with union leaders reporting progress in talks with county governments on career guidelines and Universal Health Coverage staff status. Union officials said they have tentatively agreed to submit representatives for a committee reviewing career guidelines, while the President's directive on resolving human resource and payroll issues has advanced discussions on UHC matters.
25 August 2026 · The Standard →
A nurses' strike in Kenya has crippled public hospital services, pushing patients including pregnant women to pay out-of-pocket at private facilities. One mother-to-be, unable to rely on her planned public hospital delivery, was forced to use all her savings and seek help from friends and community members to cover emergency care at a private facility.
18 August 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives said striking nurses will not return to work despite disciplinary action from several counties following a court injunction declaring the strike illegal and a Council of Governors directive to implement discipline. The strike, now in its third week, involves nurses in Nyandarua, Mombasa, Kericho, Embu, Kisumu and Uasin Gishu counties.
13 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's nurses' union has dismissed the Council of Governors' threat to direct counties to hire new nurses during the ongoing strike, maintaining that striking nurses will only return once their grievances—including unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreements dating to 2013, delayed promotions, and staffing shortages—are addressed.
10 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's nationwide nurses' strike remains unresolved after a week of meetings between the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, the Council of Governors, and other government agencies. The union and governors are divided over whether key Collective Bargaining Agreement issues have been agreed upon or remain open to further negotiation.
8 August 2026 · The Standard →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →