In a major breakthrough for Kenya’s public healthcare sector, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) officially called off its 41-day nationwide strike on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, directing all healthcare workers to return to their posts within 24 hours.
Tuko News
The announcement followed intensive, day-long negotiations between union leaders and the Council of Governors (CoG), bringing an end to nearly six weeks of severe disruptions across county health facilities.
The Star
STRIKE RESOLUTION TIMELINE
[ July 29, 2026 ] ──► KNUNM initiates nationwide strike over unresolved CBAs
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[ Sept 8, 2026 ] ──► KMPDU (Doctors) issues 7-day ultimatum over overwhelmed facilities
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[ Sept 9, 2026 ] ──► CoG and KNUNM sign breakthrough agreement; strike officially called off
1. Key Terms of the Agreement
The agreement, announced by KNUNM Secretary General Seth Panyako alongside CoG Chairperson Governor Ahmed Abdullahi and CoG Health Committee Chair Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, centers on immediate allowance boosts and long-term commitments:
Nairobi Leo
+———————————–+———————————————————————————+
| Agreement Item | Details & Financial Impact |
+———————————–+———————————————————————————+
| **Risk Allowance Boost** | Increased by KSh 8,000 per month |
+———————————–+———————————————————————————+
| **Uniform Allowance Boost** | Increased by KSh 5,000 per month |
+———————————–+———————————————————————————+
| **Total Immediate Increase** | **KSh 13,000 combined monthly allowance increase** |
+———————————–+———————————————————————————+
| **CBA Implementation Timeline** | Framework for full CBA implementation to be formalized within 45 days |
+———————————–+———————————————————————————+
| **UHC Staff Integration** | Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff to be absorbed by county governments |
+———————————–+———————————————————————————+
2. Statements from Union and Government Leadership
Speaking during the joint press announcement, stakeholders expressed relief that a sustainable compromise had been reached to restore vital health services:
“By the powers conferred upon me by the constitution of the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives and the Constitution of Kenya, I hereby declare that the strike that commenced on the 29th of July 2026 is hereby called off. I urge our members to resume duty immediately, and in any case not later than 24 hours from now.”
— Seth Panyako, KNUNM Secretary General
The Star
“Through the efforts of our health committee, we have reached a sustainable agreement. We offered an increase in risk allowance to KSh 8,000 and a KSh 5,000 increase in uniform allowance, and we remain committed to reviewing these allowances further.”
— Ahmed Abdullahi, Chairperson, Council of Governors
People Daily
3. Averting a Wider Healthcare Collapse
The resolution comes just a day after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) warned that doctors were overburdened taking over nursing duties and threatened to join the strike if the impasse was not resolved.
The Star
With nurses ordered back to work immediately, normal operations are expected to resume across all county referral and sub-county hospitals, easing patient congestion and ending weeks of public anxiety.
Tuko News
