Patients seeking treatment at public hospitals across Bungoma County were left stranded on Wednesday July 29, 2026 after nurses downed their tools, forcing many to leave without receiving medical care as services in outpatient, maternity and inpatient departments were disrupted.
Addressing the media at Bungoma County referral hospital pediatrician section, David Wamalwa, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNW) secretary in Bungoma branch, stated that the nurses grievances are firmly anchored in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Article 41 that guarantees every worker the right to fair labour practices, fair remuneration, reasonable working conditions and right to engage in collective bargaining through a trade union.
“The labour relations act, 2007 recognizes the right of workers to participate in lawful industrial action after the prescribed procedures has been followed, while the employment act, 2007 requires employers to uphold fair labour practices and protect the rights and dignity of employees,” Wamalwa stated.
Further, Wamalwa revealed among the issues that have resulted in the nurses’ strike include the failure to negotiate and conclude the first centralized collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for 2025-2029.
“Despite having a recognized trade union, nurses in Kenya have never had a centralized CBA, collective bargaining is not a favour, it is Constitutional right under Article 41,” he said.
He said that the union is demanding the immediate commencement, conclusion, registration and implementation of the first centralized CBA so that nurses can have fair and nationally agreed terms and conditions of the service.
They also pointed out the failure by the government to provide an implementation matrix for the 2017 return-to-work formula arguing that the agreement was signed in good faith to end a previous industrial dispute and contained commitments intended to improve the welfare of nurses and strengthen healthcare services.
“Unfortunately, many of those commitments remain unfulfilled, we are therefore asking for a clear implementation matrix with timelines, responsible institutions and accountability measures to ensure that every outstanding commitment is honored,” he said.
The unionist also highlighted the failure to implement the career guidelines for the nursing profession.
“These guidelines were developed to provide a transparent framework for career progression, promotions, deployment and professional growth, their continued non- implementation has resulted in stagnation, delayed promotions, low morale and loss of motivation among the nurses,” he added.
Echoing his sentiments Wilfred Osundwa, the branch Secretary General urged all the nurses to remain at home until their grievances are addressed by the government.
“We have gone around all facilities in Bungoma to ensure that nurses suspend their services until the government comes clear about the nurses’ demands,” Osundwa stated.
Mary Nafula, a caregiver at Bungoma County Referral Hospital (BCRH) expressed disappointment with the ongoing strike stating that all patients were ordered to leave the facility to private ones.
“I had brought here my sister to deliver, though she delivered well but now we have already been discharged because of the strike, I thought she would be at the hospital to stabilize,” she stated.
Nafula added, “There are those who need immediate medical attention but they have been abandoned because of the strike, I ask the government to move with speed and sort this nurses’ issue.”
