Machakos County has issued a stern warning to nurses planning to stay away from work over unpaid salaries, threatening disciplinary action against any unauthorized absenteeism.
In a notice signed by the County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Dr. Muya Ndambuki, on Wednesday, October 8, the county government addressed allegations of continued non-payment of salaries for nurses and midwives for August and September 2025.
The notice, referencing a letter from the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) dated October 8, 2025, acknowledged the union's concerns regarding the salary delays.
Dr. Ndambuki explained that union members missed their August salaries as a direct consequence of a strike that was called off after the payroll for that month was closed.
He indicated that high-level negotiations are underway to address the delay regarding September salaries.
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"Attention is drawn to your alleged continued non-payment of salaries for nurses and midwives for the months of August and September 2025. You are well aware that the reason your union members missed their August salaries was a direct consequence of your strike, which was called off after the closure of the payroll for August. As for September salaries, high-level negotiations are in place to stem further delay," the notice stated.
The county government strongly opposed the KNUN members' planned absence from their workstations effective Friday, October 10, 2025, warning that any unauthorized absenteeism would be treated as a disciplinary case.
"Note that any unauthorized absenteeism will be handled as a disciplinary case. Staff members are therefore advised to think carefully along the lines of consequentialism. Engaging in any activity (ies) that disrupt or in any way create chaos in or around health facilities will be met with commensurate administrative force," Dr. Ndambuki warned.
The county's warning comes in response to a 24-hour notice issued by the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Machakos branch on Tuesday, October 8, over the non-payment of August and September salaries.
In their statement, the union had expressed serious concerns about the ongoing salary delays affecting nurses and midwives in the county, stating that healthcare workers would be unable to report to work from Friday, October 10, 2025.
The KNUNM Machakos County Branch had indicated that despite multiple appeals and assurances, their members had not received their salaries for the two months, causing immense financial hardship and leaving many unable to meet basic needs, including transport to their duty stations.
The health workers clarified that their planned action was not an industrial strike but a consequence of the employer's failure to remit salaries as required under the Employment Act, 2007 and existing human resource policy manuals.
