Services at Kenyatta National Hospital were paralysed on Monday after nurses went on strike, citing long-standing grievances over working conditions, delayed payments, and staff shortages, even as management said efforts to resolve the dispute are ongoing.
Patients were left stranded across multiple departments as the industrial action took effect. Nurses’ representatives said the strike followed months—and in some cases years—of unresolved welfare concerns, including the failure to implement the 2017 return-to-work formula.
A representative speaking on behalf of the nurses said frustrations have been building over time, particularly around salary deductions, medical cover, and heavy workloads.
“We have a medical cover, but when a nurse falls sick and goes to the hospital, medicines are often unavailable. Sometimes a doctor dismissively tells you that you do not need a certain drug and instead gives you something basic like Brufen,” the representative said.
The nurses also raised concerns over the non-remittance of statutory and third-party deductions, saying delays have destabilised their finances, with some struggling to service loans due to unremitted funds.
Staff shortages have further worsened the situation, with nurses saying the workforce is overstretched. The pressure has been compounded by frequent strikes in hospitals across neighbouring counties, pushing more patients to seek care at the national referral facility.
“We have been overwhelmed by work. The workload is too much compared to our numbers. Currently, we are about 2,300, yet we are supposed to be around 2,800,” the representative said.
“As you know, many hospitals in Nairobi frequently go on strike. Neighbouring counties such as Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado are also often affected by strikes. As a result, patients from all these areas know that the only place they can reliably seek treatment is Kenyatta National Hospital. This means one nurse may be required to attend to up to 40 patients in a ward. In the ICU, one nurse may be assigned four patients, yet the standard should be one nurse per patient.”
Nurses also pointed to congestion at the facility, noting that patients with minor illnesses often seek care at the referral hospital, delaying treatment for more serious cases.
“At times, cases like simple fever come here, leaving those with serious illnesses waiting for long,” the representative said.
Beyond working conditions, the nurses cited delayed salaries, casualisation of staff, and challenges in accessing pension benefits. They argued that some employees remain on temporary contracts without full employment benefits.
The strike is expected to disrupt key services, including inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, and emergency units, raising concerns about access to specialised care at the country’s largest referral hospital.
In a statement on Sunday, April 12, Acting Chief Executive Officer Richard Lesiyampe said management is addressing the concerns and urged patience as consultations continue.
“The Hospital Management wishes to assure staff, patients, and the public that the issues highlighted primarily relate to remittance timelines for statutory and third-party deductions, as well as broader staff welfare matters,” he said.
“These issues are currently being addressed through the established institutional consultation mechanisms between the Hospital, relevant government agencies, and staff representatives.”
Lesiyampe confirmed that salaries had been processed and paid up to March 2026 but attributed delays in remittances to the broader healthcare financing system.
“Staff salaries have been processed and paid up to March 2026. The settlement of statutory and third-party deductions is undertaken through structured remittance arrangements linked to institutional cash-flow cycles,” the hospital said.
“Consequently, the timing of remittance processing is influenced by the broader national healthcare financing and reimbursement cycle.”
On pension contributions, he noted, “With regard to pension contributions, the Hospital continues to operate within the established pension administration framework to ensure that both employer and employee obligations are managed in accordance with the applicable arrangements.”
He added that some staff had already transitioned to permanent and pensionable terms, with further discussions ongoing.
“ As the country’s largest national referral and teaching hospital, KNH remains fully committed to the uninterrupted provision of specialised healthcare services to the public. The Hospital Management remains committed to constructive engagement with staff representatives, relevant unions, and government stakeholders to resolve the issues raised through dialogue and established dispute-resolution mechanisms”, he said.
Despite these assurances, nurses maintain that their concerns remain unresolved and warn that services will continue to be disrupted until concrete action is taken.
The standoff now shifts to negotiations between hospital management, union representatives, and government officials, with the outcome likely to determine whether services resume or the strike escalates further.