The nationwide nurses’ strike that had disrupted services in both county and national government health facilities has been suspended in Kitui County following successful consultations between the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and local nurses. Led by CECM Ruth Koki, the county government moved swiftly to engage the striking nurses in talks aimed at restoring services and protecting the health needs of residents.
Through joint efforts by the Ministry of Health and the County Public Service Board, the county provided assurances that all salaries for UHC staff remain up to date, statutory deductions have been paid, and 80 nurses have already been promoted in line with set guidelines. The county also confirmed that more promotions and staff replacements are in progress, alongside ongoing recruitment of additional health workers to strengthen service delivery.
A major breakthrough in the talks was Kitui County’s commitment to fully implement the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), making it one of the few counties in Kenya to take this bold step in support of nurses’ welfare. The ministry emphasized that these measures are designed not only to address immediate grievances but also to build a motivated and resilient healthcare workforce.
Following these assurances, nurses agreed to suspend their strike yesterday and resume duty within 24 hours, with normal services expected to fully resume by tonight. CECM Ruth Koki affirmed that Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s administration remains committed to continuous engagement with the nurses’ union to avoid service disruptions and ensure the delivery of quality healthcare to the people of Kitui.
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