Talks fail as KNH CEO engages nurses amid paralysing strike

Kenyatta National Hospital/FILE

Services at the Kenyatta National Hospital remained disrupted on Monday after talks between striking nurses and acting chief executive officer Richard Lesiyampe failed to yield an immediate agreement, prolonging a standoff.

The nurses strike started in the morning, paralysing operations across several departments and leaving patients stranded at the country’s largest referral facility.

The strike is driven by grievances over delayed statutory deductions, pension concerns, lack of adequate medical cover and heavy workload.

In an attempt to resolve the crisis, Lesiyampe met nurses at the hospital’s administration block, where he outlined measures management has taken to address some of the issues raised.

However, the meeting ended without a consensus, with both sides agreeing to continue engagements.

During the talks, the acting CEO acknowledged gaps in staff medical cover and said the hospital had already initiated steps to introduce a comprehensive scheme.

“I went to the board of directors and requested that all KNH staff be given a medical cover that will protect them and their families countrywide,” he said.

Lesiyampe told the nurses that the board had approved the proposal and directed that it be incorporated into the hospital’s budget and procurement plans for the next financial year.

“The board approved it and said it should be put in the budget and procurement. That will be effective from July 1. Advertisements for procurement of services will be done this week,” he said.

He admitted that the facility currently lacks a sufficient medical cover for staff but emphasised that the process must follow laid-down procurement procedures.

“We have to agree that you do not have this cover. It is now that we are putting it in place, and we are going to do it through the right procedures,” Lesiyampe said.

He urged the nurses to allow time for implementation, noting that some of the challenges raised had accumulated over years.

“I came here and found many issues. I have only been here for six months and I cannot resolve all of them at once,” he said.

Despite the assurances, nurses maintained that their concerns require urgent intervention.

KNH Nurses Union secretary Linus Khasenye said frustrations have been building over time, particularly around salary-related deductions and working conditions.

“We have a medical cover, but when a nurse is sick and goes to seek medical check-up, medicine is missing or we are given basic drugs. We end up paying cash,” he said.

The nurses also cited non-remittance of statutory and third-party deductions, saying the delays have affected their financial stability, including loan repayments.

Staff shortages have further compounded the situation, with nurses saying the workforce is overstretched.

“We have been overwhelmed by work. Currently we are about 2,300 yet we are supposed to be around 2,800,” Khasenye said.

They said frequent strikes in neighbouring counties have increased patient inflow to KNH, worsening the already heavy workload.

“At times, cases like simple fever come here, leaving those with serious illnesses waiting for long,” he said.

In an earlier statement, hospital management said salaries had been paid up to March 2026 and attributed delays in remittances to broader national healthcare financing systems.

Despite the failed talks, both parties indicated willingness to continue discussions, raising hopes for a resolution even as pressure mounts to restore services at the vital referral hospital.