Murang'a nurses demonstrating in Murang'a town on August 3, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERAHealth services in Murang'a County were disrupted on Monday after nurses joined the nationwide strike, paralysing services as they demanded implementation of their collective bargaining agreement.
Branch officials of the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) said the industrial action was driven by years of unfulfilled promises, insisting they would not resume duty until county governments addressed their grievances.
Speaking during protests held in Murang’a town, Mburu said the strike could have been avoided had negotiations on the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) been concluded and implemented by the Council of Governors.
"We are demanding that the CBA be implemented," said Murang'a KNUNM Branch Secretary Lucy Mburu who also demanded permanent and pensionable terms for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses who were recruited during the Covid-19 pandemic but remain on temporary terms.
She said the union was also pushing for the implementation of career progression guidelines approved by the Public Service Commission, arguing that delays had denied nurses promotions and slowed their professional growth.
The nurses further demanded payment of salary arrears dating back to the 2017 nationwide nurses' strike, saying although the funds were reportedly released to counties, health workers in Murang'a were yet to receive what they are owed.
The union also opposed the continued engagement of nurses under internship programmes, describing the arrangement as cheap labour that denies qualified professionals fair pay and job security.
The Murang'a demonstration formed part of a nationwide strike called by KNUNM after negotiations between the union, the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health failed to resolve a long-running dispute over the implementation of the 2025-2029 CBA.
Across several counties, nurses have downed their tools while demanding the implementation of the agreement, confirmation of UHC staff on permanent and pensionable terms, promotions under approved career progression guidelines, payment of outstanding allowances and improved working conditions.
In Murang'a, the nurses maintained that they would remain on strike until their concerns, including the delayed 2017 salary arrears, were addressed.
County Secretary Newton Mwangi, however, acknowledged the nurses' grievances and appealed for dialogue, saying the county administration was committed to finding a solution.
"I have received your message. Allow me to present your complaints to the executive, and then we will sit down with your officials and communicate the way forward," Mwangi said.
He noted that while the internship programme is a national government policy, Murang'a has been transitioning interns to contract employment, adding that settling inherited salary arrears would require time as the county mobilises resources.
Despite the county's assurance, the nurses insisted the strike would continue until concrete commitments are made on their demands.
