Nurses and midwives at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) have issued a 21-day strike notice, giving hospital management until November 9, 2026, to address seven grievances affecting their employment and working conditions.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUMM) issued the notice dated October 13, 2026, warning that its members would withdraw their labour from 12:01am on November 9 if the issues raised are not resolved.
The notice, signed by the union’s General Secretary, Seth Panyako, was received at the hospital on October 14, 2026.
Among the union’s main demands is the promotion of eligible nurses and midwives to permanent and pensionable terms, alongside alignment of their positions under the common-cadre structure and payment of any outstanding arrears.
The union is also demanding the settlement of pending gratuity payments and the conclusion and signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to provide a framework for employment terms and conditions.
Other grievances include the review and standardisation of locum rates, recognition of higher academic and professional qualifications, and formalisation of working hours and compensation for work done on public holidays.
The union is further calling for the recruitment of locum nurses and the conversion of eligible staff working on locum arrangements to permanent and pensionable terms.
According to the strike notice, the planned industrial action will involve the withdrawal of services by nurses and midwives until the grievances are fully addressed.
However, the union has indicated that arrangements will be made to maintain care for patients already receiving treatment at the hospital. No new admissions will be accepted during the strike, according to the notice.
The planned action could affect access to services at the facility if the dispute remains unresolved before the proposed commencement date.
The union has copied the notice to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and its chapter representatives.
The involvement of the two ministries and the SRC places the dispute before key public institutions responsible for labour matters, health policy and public-sector remuneration.
KUTRRH management had not provided a response in the information contained in the notice.
The strike is scheduled to begin on November 9, 2026, unless the union’s demands are addressed before then.
