Pregnant women and newborns continue to bear the brunt of the nationwide nurses’ strike, now in its sixth day, with obstetricians warning that prolonged disruption of maternal health services could lead to preventable deaths if the dispute is not resolved urgently.
The Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS) has urged the government to expedite negotiations with health workers, saying the ongoing industrial action has severely disrupted maternity services in public hospitals.
KOGS President Dr. Kireki Omanwa said maternity and neonatal wards are under immense pressure as patients are being transferred from health facilities that have suspended services due to the strike.
“The continued disruption of maternity services poses a serious threat to efforts aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths by 2028,” Dr. Omanwa said, calling on the government to reach a speedy resolution with healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, services at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have begun returning to normal after nurses resumed work following an agreement between the hospital management and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The agreement increased the annual uniform allowance from Sh15,000 to Sh25,000, raised the nursing service allowance from Sh20,000 to Sh30,000, and improved leave allowances based on job grades.
Despite the breakthrough at KNH, services in most county hospitals remain disrupted as nurses continue with the strike. Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Assistant Secretary-General Lucy Mburu said talks involving the union, the Council of Governors, and officials from the Ministries of Health and Labour had yet to yield an agreement.
The healthcare crisis has worsened in Isiolo County, where doctors have also been on strike for 66 days. Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Dennis Miskellah said doctors have gone unpaid for three months, while statutory deductions, including taxes, Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions and loan repayments, have not been remitted to the relevant institutions.
Homa Bay and Siaya counties are also facing the threat of doctors’ strikes over employment disputes and health insurance-related grievances. In Homa Bay, nursing leaders have urged Governor Gladys Wanga, who chairs the Council of Governors’ Human Resource Committee, to help broker a resolution.
The impact of the strike is also being felt at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, where many patients have turned to private health facilities after services stalled.
At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu, the influx of patients from neighbouring counties has overwhelmed the facility. Director of Nursing Services Teresa Okiri said the hospital is now receiving an average of 50 critically ill patients daily, with maternity, neonatal and emergency wards operating beyond capacity.
At Kitui County Referral Hospital, hundreds of patients continued to wait for treatment as healthcare services remained disrupted, with many appealing to the government to resolve the standoff and restore normal operations.
