Nurses stand firm against payroll transfer proposal, strike to continue
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has dismissed a recent government directive that was meant to bring the standoff to an end.
Nurses across Kenya have declared they will continue their nationwide strike until their key demands are met, including salary increases, job promotions, and improved working conditions, rejecting a government proposal that sought to shift their payroll to county governments.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has dismissed a recent government directive that was meant to bring the standoff to an end.
In a letter dated May 9 and addressed to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, KNUNM General Secretary Seth Panyako confirmed that the union would not accept the proposals announced on May 6, 2025.
Panyako stated that the union does not agree with the decisions communicated by Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, and Council of Governors CEO Mary Mwiti.
He said the strike would continue until all demands by the nurses are addressed without delay.
"All nurses across the country will join the strike, and they will not stop until their demands are fully addressed," Panyako said.
During the May 6 meeting, Duale had urged nurses under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program who were on strike to return to work no later than May 7.
The Ministry of Health also issued a statement confirming that the payroll for UHC staff would be handed over to county governments starting July 1.
"The meeting resolved that the Ministry of Health shall transfer the management of UHC staff payroll to counties effective July 1, with an attendant budget for payment of stipend under the current terms in the interim," the Ministry stated.
However, the union has opposed this move, warning that the planned transfer will not be accepted unless nurses’ terms of service are regularized first.
They maintained that their call for fair treatment and equal pay must be met before any transfer can take place.
"Following the consultative meeting between the unions and yourselves on May 6, in which both the Principal Secretary and the CEO of the Council of Governors made a communication on the resolutions, our union rejects the contents of the communication in totality," the letter reads.
KNUNM has also raised concerns of discrimination in how UHC nurses are treated, pointing to differences in pay between doctors and nurses under the same program.
The union said it had received information that UHC doctors are being paid according to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) guidelines and that plans for their full absorption have already been included in the national budget.
In contrast, the union claimed that UHC nurses continue to work under unclear terms with no clear framework for permanent employment or fair compensation.
The government’s proposal outlined that counties would receive budgetary support during the transition period to maintain existing salary arrangements.
However, the union argued that this approach does not guarantee long-term security or equal treatment for nurses.
The Health Ministry maintains that transferring payroll responsibilities to counties is part of the broader devolution plan and will allow for better management of healthcare workers.
But KNUNM insists the move could worsen the situation if the nurses’ demands are not resolved first.
Nurses have pledged to remain on strike across the country until their grievances are addressed. The union said it will not be swayed by pressure to resume duty under conditions it deems unfair or unequal.
