Healthcare Crisis: Kenyan Nurses Declare Strike Just 48 Hours After Ghana Nursing Union’s Threat

FELLOW NURSES AFRICA || NAIROBI, KENYA || May 30, 2025

Kenya Nurses Join Ghana in Strike Threat as African Healthcare Crisis Deepens

Just two days after the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) issued a strike threat over poor working conditions amid the Mpox crisis, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has announced a nationwide strike, set to begin on July 7, 2025, if their demands are not met.

In a letter made available to Fellow Nurses Africa’s correspondent, dated May 29, 2025 and addressed to key health officials, including the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the CEO of Kenyatta National Hospital, KNUNM General Secretary Sethi Panyako detailed long-standing issues plaguing Kenyan nurses. The union has given the government a 26-working-day ultimatum to resolve these concerns, warning of a full-scale strike if action isn’t taken.

Kenyan Nurses’ Demands: A Call for Change

The KNUNM outlined nine critical grievances, some unresolved for over seven years, including:

• Job Insecurity: Nurses under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program are still not on permanent, pensionable terms, leading to job insecurity and unequal employment conditions.
• Unimplemented Salary Increases: The 2024 Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) salary structure, effective since July 2024, has not been rolled out by counties, leaving nurses underpaid.
• Neglected Agreements: County governments have failed to negotiate and conclude Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), ignoring nurses’ pleas for better conditions.
• Financial and Resource Issues: The union highlighted illegal fee deductions at Kenyatta National Hospital, the Ministry of Health’s failure to transfer budgets to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, nurse shortages in public facilities, and delays in preauthorizing nurse anesthetists and empaneling nursing facilities.

“We remain committed to a cordial working relationship, but these unresolved grievances, spanning over seven years, are the grounds for our nationwide strike,” Panyako stated in the letter.

A Growing Wave of Discontent Across Africa

This announcement follows closely on the heels of a similar strike threat by Ghana’s GRNMA. As reported yesterday on Fellow Nurses Africa, Ghanaian nurses are demanding better protective equipment, improved salaries, and urgent action to address the Mpox crisis. Read more about Ghana’s nursing crisis here.

The near-simultaneous actions—within 48 hours of each other—highlight a growing wave of frustration among African nurses. From Nairobi to Accra, nurses are united in their demand for fair treatment, better pay, and recognition of their critical role in healthcare.

Why This Matters: The Broader Crisis

Nurses form the backbone of Africa’s healthcare systems, often working under immense pressure with limited resources. The issues raised by KNUNM and GRNMA reflect systemic challenges across the continent:

• Underfunding in Healthcare: Many African governments struggle to allocate sufficient budgets to healthcare, leaving nurses and patients underserved.
• Severe Workforce Shortages: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a shortage of over 5 million healthcare workers in Africa, with nurses bearing the brunt.
• Burnout and Low Morale: A 2024 African Health Observatory study found that 60% of East African nurses experience burnout due to low pay, long hours, and lack of support.

If these strikes proceed, they could cripple healthcare systems in Kenya and Ghana, particularly during ongoing public health challenges like the Mpox outbreak.

What’s Next?

KNUNM has directed its branch officials to mobilize members for the potential strike but remains open to dialogue. “We are open to dialogue and committed to a cordial working relationship,” Panyako emphasized. However, with the government’s deadline set for July 7, 2025, the pressure is on to avoid a major healthcare crisis.

A Call to Stand Together

The struggles in Kenya and Ghana underscore the urgent need for African nurses to unite. Now is the time to advocate for better conditions, fair compensation, and the respect they deserve.

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