Deal Sealed: Kenyatta National Hospital Nurses End Strike After Breakthrough Talks Led by Aden Duale

Nurses resume duties at Kenyatta National Hospital after calling off their strike following a negotiated return-to-work agreement brokered by Health CS Aden Duale.

 Article by: Babz Abdul-Raheem.
Date: April 15, 2026.

Nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital have called off their two-day strike following a breakthrough return-to-work agreement reached after intensive negotiations between union officials, hospital management, and the Ministry of Health.

The deal was brokered by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, bringing an end to a standoff that had disrupted services at the country’s largest referral hospital. Operations had been significantly affected since the strike began on April 13, with patients facing delays across several departments.

In his remarks after the agreement, Duale said, “We have reached a constructive and mutual understanding that puts patients first while also addressing the welfare concerns of our healthcare workers.” He urged nurses to resume duty immediately and continue delivering essential healthcare services.

The strike had been triggered by long-standing grievances raised by the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, including delayed implementation of a 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement addendum, inadequate medical cover, heavy workloads, and concerns over job security for contract staff.

At the height of the strike, critical services at the hospital were disrupted, prompting urgent government intervention to restore normal operations.

Under the new agreement, several of the nurses’ demands have been addressed. The deal provides improved medical cover, clearer promotion pathways, and measures to ease workload pressure through the recruitment of additional staff. It also confirms the implementation of the delayed CBA addendum, unlocking improved allowances and benefits such as enhanced service and uniform allowances.

A key provision in the agreement is the phased conversion of contract nurses into permanent and pensionable terms beginning July 2026, alongside a commitment to strengthen staffing levels to reduce pressure on frontline workers. The deal also guarantees that no nurse will face victimization for participating in the strike.

The resolution marks a major step toward restoring full services at the hospital, although it also highlights ongoing challenges in Kenya’s public healthcare system, including staffing shortages and recurring labour disputes.