By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 13 April 2026 - Operations at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) were thrown into disarray on Monday after nurses staged a strike, leaving patients waiting in wards and corridors as services slowed across the country’s largest referral facility.
The industrial action, driven by long-standing grievances, has exposed deep frustrations among frontline health workers who say their concerns have gone unresolved for months.
At the heart of the strike are complaints over delayed salary deductions, pension issues and mounting workload pressures.
“We have a medical cover, but when a nurse is sick… medicine is missing or we are given basic drugs. We end up paying cash,” a representative said, highlighting the gap between promised benefits and reality.
Nurses also raised alarm over delays in remitting statutory and third-party deductions, saying the situation has disrupted loan repayments and financial planning.
Beyond pay, staffing shortages have intensified the strain. According to the union, the hospital is operating below required capacity.
“We have been overwhelmed by work. The workload is too much compared to our numbers… we are about 2,300 yet we are supposed to be around 2,800,” the representative said.
The pressure has been compounded by recurring strikes in neighbouring counties, which often push more patients to KNH, stretching already limited resources.
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Inside the hospital, the impact has been immediate, patients left stranded, delays in treatment, and uncertainty over access to critical care.
In response, KNH management said salaries had been paid up to March and attributed delays in remittances to broader healthcare financing systems.
“Staff salaries have been processed and paid… the timing of remittance processing is influenced by the broader national healthcare financing and reimbursement cycle,” the hospital said.
Management added that talks are ongoing to resolve the issues, including pension concerns and employment terms.
However, nurses insist little has changed, warning that services will remain disrupted until concrete action is taken.
Patients Stranded as KNH Nurses Down Tools Over Pay and Welfare Disputes
Panic and confusion as nurses' strike disrupts routine at KNH