Kenya: Kindiki Urges CoG, Nurses' Union to End Strike Over Health Service Disruptions

What the report says

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on Kenya’s Council of Governors and the nurses’ union to quickly resolve an ongoing strike that has disrupted health services, according to Capital FM’s report published by AllAfrica. Speaking in Nairobi, he urged both sides to return to talks and reach an agreement that addresses nurses’ grievances while restoring access to essential care for patients.

Kindiki said the dispute should not be allowed to continue for long because public health services are central to Kenya’s social and economic development. He framed the strike as a matter of national urgency, arguing that prolonged disruption in hospitals risks hurting ordinary people who rely on county-run facilities for treatment and other medical services.

The report said the strike has affected service delivery in public health facilities, with patients facing delays and interruptions. Under Kenya’s devolved system, county governments oversee most public health services, which makes the governors’ council a key negotiating party alongside health worker representatives.

More broadly, the deputy president’s comments reflect continued government pressure for a negotiated settlement in the health sector. The appeal underscores the challenge of balancing labour disputes with uninterrupted public services, especially in a system where county authorities play a major role in healthcare delivery.