Patients suffer as nurses' strike persists
Patients queue as nurses kick off their strike at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in this file photo.
Ms Khadija Famau, 32, is seen walking outside the King Fahd County Referral Hospital. Holding her waist as she moves, the mother of two looks devastated.
It is her second day visiting the main public facility to have her stomach checked, but she leaves unattended due to the ongoing nurses’ strike.
“I am considering seeking care in a private hospital tomorrow. I know it’s expensive and I have no money. But I’ve no option. I can’t be visiting King Fahd twice, only for me to be given a cold treatment. I am in pain,” said Ms Famau.
A section of the Lamu King Fahd County Referral Hospital in Lamu Island where Mansuri Yussuf is lying after he was attacked by machete-wielding gangs in this photo taken on May 23, 2025.
Her case mirrors the suffering of many patients in Lamu since the county-wide strike began a week ago. Over 200 nurses downed their tools last Monday, paralysing operations in public hospitals, including King Fahd County Referral Hospital and Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital.
The Nation spot check
A similar situation is facing several other counties countrywide, including Kwale County in the Coast region. The nurses' strike in Kwale has continued for four weeks.
A spot check in Lamu hospitals established that most facilities are offering only emergency and referral services, with wards nearly empty and outpatient consultations halted. Patients who can afford private care are flocking there, while many others return home untreated.
“Only limited outpatient services are being offered here at the moment. The strike has affected the normal service delivery. As you’re aware, nurses always offer crucial services. They’re the first contact with the patients before doctors can attend to them. That means their absence makes it difficult for us to offer some services,” said a medical officer who sought anonymity.
Healthcare crisis
Simon Mbuhia, a resident, said he was forced to withdraw his sick child from Mpeketoni Hospital wards two days ago as no nurses were available.
“I am among the victims. The medical fees charged in private facilities are too high but we’ve no option now that the strike by nurses has paralyzed operations in almost all our public hospitals,” said Mr Mbuhia.
Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Lamu Branch Secretary, Eric Otieno, said the strike will continue until all grievances are addressed. Nurses are demanding implementation of a 2017 return-to-work agreement, which awarded increments of Sh15,000 for uniform allowance, Sh10,000 for nursing services allowance, and Sh1,150 for health risk allowance. They also want the six per cent salary increment with arrears as per the SRC review for the 2024/2025 financial year.
Other demands include signing of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), employment of 200 nurses to fill staffing gaps, conversion of contractual nurses to permanent terms, and implementation of delayed promotions. Mr Otieno accused the county government of intimidation.
“The county government of Lamu has on many occasions shown disregard to employees’ grievances. Instead of amicably addressing the issues raised by workers, it has always intimidated and victimized the innocent health workers pressing such issues,” he said.
He added: “As of today, the county government of Lamu hasn't paid salaries for the month of July, but immediately nurses began their strike on other issues, members of the union are being victimized with threats of salary stoppage should they continue with the strike. We won’t relent.”
Contacted, County Health Executive and Deputy Governor Dr Mbarak Bahjaj confirmed that the strike has disrupted services, forcing some wards to be merged to allow the few available staff to attend to critical patients. He said about 120 county nurses and another 145 under Universal Health Coverage (UHC) are all on strike.
Dr Bahjaj appealed for patience, saying the county cannot raise the Sh500 million needed to meet all demands. “We’re already struggling to streamline with the meagre resources we get from the exchequer. The county wage bill is already far beyond the allowable limit. We shall only implement all that is possible in due time if resources and the laid laws permit,” he said, warning that if the strike persists, the county would hire temporary nurses.
