The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Machakos branch have issued a 24-hour notice to Governor Wavinya Ndeti over non-payment of August and September salaries.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 8, the union expressed serious concerns about the ongoing salary delays affecting nurses and midwives in the county, warning that healthcare workers would be unable to report to work effective Friday, October 10, 2025.
The KNUNM Machakos County Branch stated that despite multiple appeals and assurances, their members have not received August and September 2025 salaries.
"This situation has caused immense financial hardship to our members, who are now unable to meet their basic needs, including transport to their respective duty stations. We hereby issue 24 hours' notice to your office," the statement read.
The health workers clarified that their planned action is not an industrial strike but rather a direct consequence of the employer's failure to remit salaries as required under the Employment Act, 2007 and existing human resource policy manuals.
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"Please note that this is not an industrial action but a direct result of the employer's failure to remit salaries as required under the Employment Act, 2007 and the existing human resource policy manuals. Our members will only resume duty once their August and September 2025 salaries have been paid in full," the statement indicated.
The union urged Governor Ndeti's office to address the matter urgently to prevent further disruption of essential health services within the county.
The salary crisis in Machakos County comes amid a wider healthcare workers' strike affecting several counties across Kenya, which has put immense pressure on functioning health facilities.
Recent months have seen medical professionals in various counties, including Kisii and Kiambu, hold protests over delayed salaries and other workplace grievances, leading to the disruption of services in public health facilities.
The ongoing industrial action in Nairobi and Kiambu counties has created a ripple effect across the healthcare system.
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) reported on Wednesday, October 8, that it is experiencing an unprecedented surge in patient numbers as people from the affected counties seek alternative care.
KNH CEO Richard Lesiyampe noted that the hospital has become the primary point of care for patients needing urgent treatment, with the maternity department particularly overwhelmed. The Labour Ward and Newborn Unit are now operating at more than double their normal capacity.
Similarly, Murang'a County Governor Irungu Kang'ata raised concerns on Tuesday, October 7, about the overwhelming patient numbers at Murang'a Level 5 Hospital. The facility is now handling between 1,500 and 2,000 outpatients daily, with 500 admitted patients matching its full bed capacity.
"The hospital is attending to 1500 to 2000 outpatients clients daily, while those admitted are 500, which is equal to the established bed capacity. The influx of patients from elsewhere compounds this," Governor Kang'ata's statement indicated.
