A crisis is looming in the health sector after nurses issued yet another strike notice set to start this week. 

The health service providers, through their umbrella body, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), have threatened to down tools starting August 8, citing blatant failure by the county governments to address their grievances. 

KNUN accused the devolved units’ administrations of failing to address their concerns despite several reminders and negotiations that saw them postpone their earlier plans to down their tools. 

Maurice Opetu, KNUN deputy general secretary, said their negotiations with authorities have hit a brick wall. 

“Our strike was to commence on July 7, 2025, but did not happen because of negotiations, and it was extended by 30 days,” he said. 

Opetu claimed that neither of the counties has attempted to resolve their issues, nor have they provided solutions for their grievances. 

Among the issues they have raised are an alleged failure to implement the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) salary review structure, failure by the county government to negotiate and conclude the CBA for the government, and failure to implement the return to work and career progression agreement. 

“We have been negotiating since 2016, and when we go to the Council of Governors, we are told to have negotiations, which we have always done but in vain. The nurses have decided that they are not taking any excuses anymore, and on the 8th of August, we are going to have the mother of all strikes,” he said. 

Opetu informed patients to brace for the strike and that they will not be available starting this Friday to give services to the suffering citizens. 

The move is likely to paralyse medical operations in the country and compel relatives of patients who are able to afford treatment in private facilities. 

“We are also calling upon all our branch officials in every county to mobilise our nurses to be ready to commence on strike on July 8,” he said in Kisumu over the weekend. 

Opetu appealed to nurses in the International community and the East African Region to support and join them in the solidarity so that nurses of Kenya can fight the war once and for all in a bid to achieve their intended goals. 

“Most of our nurses are struggling from mental health issues, overworking, poor working conditions and we are now saying that if you do not have plans of increasing the nurses we are going to down our tools, “he added, while appealing to the Ministry of health to review and reconsider the revocation of nurses internship process so that they can be reviewed case by case so that the case is handled with dignity.