The nurses and midwives' strike in Kajiado County has entered its second month, with the county government suspending their salaries — a move that has forced the medics to seek court intervention amid a health crisis affecting thousands of patients.
At least 650 nurses and midwives under the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) began their industrial action on February 28, 2025, following the expiry of a seven-day strike notice to their employer, the County Government of Kajiado.
The bone of contention remains the unfulfilled 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the two parties.
The medics accuse the county government of failing to engage the union on the CBA and to promote nurses as earlier promised. The administration is also faulted for failing to designate specialized nurses despite utilizing their services, which the union says violates labour laws.
Delayed remittance of statutory deductions is another thorny issue, with the union claiming that pension contributions for 17 months and Social Health Authority (SHA) payments for five months have not been remitted—despite deductions appearing on pay slips.
Under SHA, the striking medics say they are treated as casuals, thereby denied privileged medical care.
Additionally, the union is demanding that Governor Joseph ole Lenku’s administration implement the 2024 salary structures as per the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and address the critical shortage of nurses across the vast county.
Failure to convert Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses into permanent and pensionable status remains another key grievance in the CBA.
After several negotiation attempts failed, the county government reportedly suspended the nurses’ salaries from March 2025 and demanded show-cause letters from all striking staff.
Mr Wilson Leala, the union’s Kajiado Branch Secretary, told the Nation on Tuesday that the striking nurses and midwives had not been paid for two months.
"The salaries of striking nurses have been suspended since March 2025. We have received show-cause letters and summons from the human resources department," said Mr Leala.
"Hospitals are now operating with only 60 newly recruited nurses and midwives, in addition to volunteers and individuals working on a casual (locum) basis."
Despite these efforts to mitigate the impact of the strike, Mr Leala said most facilities, including Kajiado Referral Hospital and four sub-county hospitals, are operating below capacity, with minimal admissions.
On March 27, 2025, KNUNM moved to the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Milimani seeking relief.
On April 3, Justice Stella Rutto halted any further disciplinary action by the county government or County Public Service Board arising from the strike and directed both parties to initiate conciliation.
The case is set for mention on April 23, 2025, to confirm the status of conciliation and give further directions.
“The matter is hereby referred back to conciliation in line with Section 62 of the Labour Relations Act,” directed Justice Rutto.
The first conciliation meeting, chaired by Labour Officer Stanley Kemboi, was held on April 16, 2025, in Kajiado and attended by KNUNM representatives, County Secretary Dr Leina Mpoke, County Medical Services Chief Officer Mr Stephen Pelo, and County Public Service Board members.
However, officers from the county’s Finance Department were absent.
According to Mr Leala, the meeting yielded no progress due to the county representatives’ hard stance.
"KNUNM proposed a return-to-work formula to end the strike, but the county insisted that the strike be called off before negotiations begin—after 14 days. We felt like the county was holding a knife under the table,” he said.
With the conciliation stalled, both parties will appear in court on April 23, 2025 (tomorrow), for further directions.
County Secretary Dr Leina Mpoke and the County Executive Committee (CEC) for Medical Services and Public Health were unavailable for comment.
However, in an earlier interview at the onset of the strike, CEC Alex Kilowua told the Nation that the county was pursuing a win-win return-to-work formula.
“It is unfortunate that the strike is affecting hundreds of patients, but we are actively seeking a truce with the striking nurses and midwives. They are a major artery in the health sector,” Mr Kilowua said, without disclosing further details.
KNUNM National Secretary General Stephen Warutere, in a prior interview, condemned the county government for resorting to what he called blackmail and intimidation.
"Kajiado County has turned into a hostile employer. Some nurses have been transferred while others have received show-cause letters," Mr Warutere said.
"We will not be cowed. We will go to court to protect our members. The union remains ready to negotiate at any time."
Kajiado County is currently grappling with delayed salaries and unremitted statutory deductions across all departments, with pending bills totalling Sh390 million out of a Sh2.5 billion financial backlog.
