Nurses Union Issues 21-Day Strike Notice to KUTRRH

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUMM) has issued a 21-day strike notice to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) management over unresolved employment grievances. 

In a notice dated Wednesday, October 14, KNUMM Secretary General Seth Panyako said its members would withdraw their services from November 9, 2026, at 12:01 am if the KUTRRH management fails to address their concerns.

“We hereby issue a Twenty-One-day strike notice to the management of Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital. 

“If the issues listed below are not addressed within the stated timelines from the date of service of this letter, all nurses and midwives at KUTRRH will completely withdraw their labor on 9th November, 2026 at 00:01 AM and will remain on strike until the issues are fully addressed,” read the notice in part. 

Panyako said the union’s attempts to engage the hospital’s management to resolve the grievances have been futile.  

“Despite several attempts by the Union to engage your office and resolve these matters amicably, no meaningful response or resolution has been forthcoming. The concerns raised remain deliberately ignored and unresolved,” he stated. 

The grievances include promotion of the nurses and midwives to Permanent and Pensionable terms and common-cadre alignment and accrued arrears, payment of outstanding gratuity, finalization and signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and review and standardization of locum rates. 

Others are recognition of higher academic and professional qualifications, formalization of working hours and public holiday compensation and employment of locum nurses and conversion from locum to Permanent and Pensionable terms.

This comes a day after KNUMM issued a 21-day ultimatum to Kitui County Government following the alleged physical assault of a nurse by a senior official working in the Office of the Governor.

Panyako demanded the immediate suspension of Chief Protocol Officer Gedion Mbingo pending investigations into the alleged assault of its member, Florence Munyithya.

The union said the incident had left Munyithya with serious physical injuries, emotional trauma and professional humiliation, prompting her to seek medical treatment and report the matter to the police.

According to the union, the nurse lodged a criminal report at Kitui Police Station under Occurrence Book (OB) Reference Number 72/18/09/2026. 

She also received emergency medical treatment at Kitui County Referral Hospital and obtained a completed P3 form documenting her injuries.

Panyako further stated that Munyithya formally notified the county administration through a comprehensive complaint submitted to the Office of the County Secretary in a letter dated September 21 which was received on September 22.

"The Kitui County Government must answer for an egregious assault against a nurse, as an assault on one nurse is a direct assault on the entire nursing profession," he wrote.

Panyako identified Mbingo as the alleged perpetrator and said the union would not tolerate violence against its members in the course of their duties.

Panyako outlined several demands to the Kitui County Government, including the immediate suspension of James pending investigations and disciplinary proceedings, the conclusion of criminal investigations into the alleged conduct, and written assurances that healthcare workers would be protected from violence.

He warned that failure by the county government to meet its demands within the stipulated period could trigger further action, including legal proceedings and industrial action.

"Take notice that if the above demands are not met in full within 21 days of this letter, the Union shall undertake any action that is legal made to protect and safeguard our members in place of work which actions may include but not limited to legal and industrial actions," he further said.