The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has launched an eleventh-hour effort to end the ongoing nationwide nurses’ strike by convening an emergency consultative meeting with the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) and the Council of Governors (CoG).
The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday at the commission’s headquarters in Nairobi, comes as industrial action continues to disrupt healthcare services in several counties and ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations by nurses.
SRC seeks negotiated settlement
In a letter dated August 4, SRC Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Ali Abdullahi Surraw invited KNUNM Secretary General Seth Panyako and Council of Governors Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti for discussions aimed at addressing the issues raised by the union.
The commission said it had received the union’s notification regarding the planned demonstrations and acknowledged concerns surrounding the welfare, remuneration and working conditions of nurses and midwives.
According to SRC, meaningful dialogue remains the most effective avenue for resolving labour disputes while promoting stable industrial relations within the public service.
Meeting to address outstanding disputes
SRC said the consultative forum will provide an opportunity for all parties to discuss the concerns raised by nurses, clarify the responsibilities of each institution and identify an appropriate framework for resolving the impasse.
To facilitate productive engagement, the commission requested the union to send a manageable delegation and provide a summary of the matters it intends to table during the meeting.
Public hospitals affected by strike
The emergency talks come as healthcare services continue to be interrupted in a number of counties following the nurses’ industrial action.
Hospitals in counties including Murang’a and Homa Bay have experienced reduced operations after nurses withdrew their services, insisting they will only return to work once their grievances are addressed.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives maintains that previous negotiations have failed to deliver meaningful progress, forcing members to resort to industrial action.
Union outlines key demands
Among the issues the union wants resolved are the conclusion and implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, full implementation of the 2017 Return-to-Work Agreement, and permanent and pensionable employment terms for Universal Health Coverage nurses.
The union is also pushing for implementation of approved career progression guidelines and the resolution of long-standing salary and welfare concerns affecting nurses and midwives across the country.
KNUNM argues that several of these commitments have remained outstanding for years despite repeated engagements with government institutions.
County governments central to negotiations
The Council of Governors is expected to play a key role in the discussions because county governments are responsible for employing the majority of nurses serving in public health facilities.
County administrations have previously maintained that some of the union’s demands require coordinated action involving county governments, the national government and constitutional commissions.
The meeting is expected to clarify institutional responsibilities and establish a roadmap for implementing agreed resolutions.
Outcome expected to shape next steps
SRC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring fair and sustainable remuneration across the public sector in line with its constitutional mandate.
The commission expressed optimism that Wednesday’s meeting would provide an opportunity to resolve the dispute through dialogue and pave the way for the restoration of normal healthcare services.
The outcome of the talks is likely to determine whether nurses suspend the ongoing strike and planned demonstrations or continue with industrial action until their demands are fully addressed.
