Kenya National Union of nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) protesting along the streets of Nairobi on August 25th 2026 demanding the implementation of the CBA. (Collins Oduor, Standard)
Nurses' strike entered its 28th day on Tuesday with union leaders saying consultations with county governments have produced progress on some demands even as the industrial action continues.
Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako said talks with the Council of Governors' Health Committee had advanced on two fronts, the long pending career guidelines and the status of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff.
On career guidelines, Panyako explained the union had tentatively agreed to submit names of representatives to sit on a committee tasked with reviewing the guidelines and building a framework for the Council of Governors.
"The career guideline, we tentatively and informally agreed that it shouldn't be an issue. The union should forward names of people to sit on the committee to look into the revision of the career guidelines," said Panyako.
On UHC staff, Panyako credited President William Ruto's directive during the Health Summit ordering that human resource and payroll issues be resolved.
Ruto gave counties a one-week window to comply, promising that funding was in place and warning the national government could take over deployment of the workers if counties failed to act.