**President Ruto and Governors to Convene Talks to Resolve Nationwide Nurses’ Strike**
**NAIROBI** – President William Ruto and Kenya’s 47 governors are scheduled to meet on Monday to address the ongoing nationwide nurses’ strike, which has caused significant disruptions to healthcare services across the country.
The meeting, held under the National and County Governments Co-ordination Summit, aims to resolve the industrial action and address recurring labor disputes within the health sector. Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire confirmed the summit, which serves as the primary forum for intergovernmental relations between the national and county governments.
**Core Issues of the Dispute**
The strike is primarily driven by disagreements over the implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Governor Mbarire has stated that county governments face financial constraints in meeting the obligations set out in the agreement. Conversely, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) maintains that the CBA is legally binding and rejects claims that it is financially unsustainable.
KNUNM Secretary-General Seth Panyako stated that the union has not reached a settlement with the Council of Governors and continues to demand full implementation of the agreement. Meanwhile, county officials have urged nurses to return to work while negotiations remain ongoing.
**Impact on Public Health**
The prolonged strike has severely hindered access to both routine and emergency medical care in public hospitals. Health professionals and human rights organizations have expressed alarm regarding the impact on vulnerable patients, particularly mothers and newborns.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has characterized the situation as a public health and human rights crisis. The commission reported 79 maternal, neonatal, and perinatal deaths between August 31 and September 2, and has called for an independent verification of these figures. The National Nurses Association of Kenya has also reported similar fatalities, warning of the severe consequences of the continued disruption of public health services.
**Broader Health Sector Context**
The upcoming summit follows recent efforts by the national and county governments to stabilize the health sector. On August 31, the two levels of government reached an agreement to transition 7,789 Universal Health Coverage workers to permanent and pensionable terms, supported by a KSh8.6 billion allocation.
The Ministry of Health indicated that ongoing discussions are also addressing broader challenges, including health financing, workforce management, and the payment of healthcare claims.
Monday’s meeting is viewed as a critical opportunity for the national government, governors, and union representatives to negotiate an end to the strike and establish a framework to prevent future disruptions to public healthcare services.
Article and image source: allafrica.com
