Siaya, Kenya – Health services in Siaya County are set to resume after the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) agreed to suspend their strike for 30 days following talks with the county government.
The agreement, signed at the county headquarters, was sealed by KNUN officials and senior county leaders led by County Secretary Joseph Ogutu. The truce gives the county a one-month window to address nurses’ grievances that had paralysed public health facilities since last Friday.
“We have signed an agreement with the union officials that paves the way for the nurses to resume duties with immediate effect,” said Ogutu, flanked by County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr. Martin K’onyango and Chief Officer for Governance Walter Okello.
Union Calls for Immediate Return to Work
KNUN Siaya branch secretary Hamisi Kennedy confirmed that the decision to suspend the strike was reached after consultations with both the employer and the union’s national leadership.
“We urge all nurses across the county to report back to work without delay,” Kennedy said.
Branch chairman Dennis Omollo stressed that the agreement was signed in good faith, expressing optimism that the county government would act swiftly to resolve the outstanding issues.
Root of the Dispute
The strike, which began last Friday, saw nurses march through Siaya town to the governor’s office, demanding direct engagement with top officials. Their demands included:
- Delayed promotions and career progression concerns.
- Chronic understaffing in health facilities.
- Failure to remit statutory deductions on time.
- Non-absorption of nurses who have served under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme on contract for more than five years.
- Lack of implementation of a collective bargaining agreement providing enhanced nursing and uniform allowances.
The 30-day suspension now puts the spotlight on the county administration to deliver on its promises, with the nurses warning that industrial action could resume if no tangible progress is made.
