Kenya: CoG Urges Nurses to End Strike, Says 2017 CBA Was Signed Under Duress

What the report says

The Council of Governors in Kenya has asked nurses to end their nationwide strike, saying the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed under pressure, was never put into effect and would be too costly for county governments to sustain. The remarks were made by CoG chair Ahmed Abdullahi, who is also the governor of Wajir, amid a dispute that has disrupted services in public health facilities across the country.

According to Capital FM, which AllAfrica distributed, the governors want nurses to return to work while talks continue over unresolved issues. The nurses, represented by the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, say they will stay out until several demands are met, including implementation of the 2017 return-to-work formula, finalization of the current CBA, career progression guidelines and permanent and pensionable terms for workers under Universal Health Coverage.

The strike began on July 29 and has affected patient access to treatment in counties nationwide. Abdullahi has also argued that county governments need a funding model that can support long-term commitments before they can agree to permanent employment terms for UHC staff. The dispute adds to pressure on both sides to reach a negotiated settlement, especially after Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also called for urgent dialogue to restore normal health services.