Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu is under pressure to resolve the ongoing nurses’ strike as the industrial action entered its 27th day on Sunday, July 12, 2026, leaving public health facilities across the county operating with limited services.

The strike began on June 16, 2026, after negotiations between the Laikipia County Government and the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) failed to produce a new return-to-work agreement.

Patients seeking treatment in public hospitals have continued to experience disruptions, with some opting for private facilities while others travel outside the county to access healthcare.

Nurses have attributed the strike to unresolved commitments contained in previous return-to-work agreements signed with the county government.

Unresolved return-to-work agreement

The nurses are demanding payment of seven months’ salary arrears, promotion and redesignation of eligible staff, conversion of contracted nurses to permanent and pensionable terms, improved medical cover and recruitment of additional personnel.

They have also raised concerns over staffing shortages, poor working conditions, lack of essential equipment and delays in implementing the agreed grading structure.

The current strike comes months after the county government and KNUNM signed a return-to-work agreement that ended an earlier industrial action in April 2026.

Under that agreement, the county committed to recruit 33 nurses, process promotions and redesignations, address salary arrears and prioritise the conversion of contracted nurses to permanent and pensionable terms.

A joint technical committee was also established to oversee implementation of the agreement, with some commitments expected to be fulfilled by July 1, 2026.

However, nurses resumed the strike in June, saying key issues remained unresolved.

Healthcare services disrupted

The prolonged strike has disrupted healthcare services, particularly emergency care, maternal health services and treatment for patients with chronic illnesses.

Operations at Nanyuki and Nyahururu referral hospitals have remained affected, with some families transferring patients to other facilities.

Speaking during the strike, nurse Edith Nduta described the impact of delayed salaries on health workers. “Leo tumekuja hapa kwa sababu the county government of Laikipia wamekataa kutulipa for seven months,” she said.

“We do not have clear information on how we are going to be paid or how we are supposed to work.”

Nduta said many nurses were struggling to meet basic family needs.

“Personally, siwezi afford basic needs like sanitary pads just because somebody somewhere decided not to pay me. I have a small child. How do I raise a child without a salary for seven months? How do I afford diapers?” she said.

“We are suffering. It is either you pay us or we stop working. Your lies do not pay our bills. We want action.”

Union insists strike will continue

Laikipia KNUNM chairman Peter Ndiba said nurses had suspended previous strikes after reaching agreements with the county government, but the commitments had not been implemented.

“We had an agreement a year ago, and the return-to-work formula has not been honoured. We have had like four return-to-work formulas; if we sign another one, it will be the fifth. We are tired,” he said.

Ndiba said contracted nurses had served the county for years without being absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms.

“These workers have served this county for many years without being absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms. We agreed they would be taken in, but we are still being told to wait that it is a work in progress,” he said.

He also criticised the delay in salary payments. “It is very shameful that a worker is made to go seven months without pay after doing their job. Why should a worker be left without a salary for seven months? They have families and responsibilities. It is shameful to the County Government of Laikipia,” Ndiba said.

He maintained that nurses would not resume work until their demands were addressed.

“Na wakati huu tunasema hakuna kurudi kazini kwa sababu tumekaa miaka miwili tukizungumzia mambo ambayo yanajirudia yanajirudia yanajirudia. Tutakaa nje mpaka yale mambo yatekelezwe,” he said.

At the time of publication, no new return-to-work agreement had been announced. The Laikipia County Government and representatives of the nurses had not responded to requests for comment.