Nurses in Machakos County have officially ended their strike following a successful meeting between union representatives and county officials, bringing relief to patients who had faced days of disrupted health services. The industrial action, which had stretched into its second week, has been suspended for 90 days, with medics instructed to resume duty within 48 hours. The development comes after the county government pledged to implement several measures addressing the nurses’ grievances.
Michael Saka, Machakos branch secretary of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), confirmed that the county government has committed to clearing outstanding loan deductions and enforcing the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) directive on salary increments for public servants by September 30. In addition, nurses who have served for over seven years will be promoted within two weeks, monthly allowances will rise from Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 25,000, and the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be fully implemented. Saka assured that no disciplinary action would be taken against any nurse who participated in the strike, providing further reassurance to health workers.
The resolution of the strike is expected to restore normal operations at hospitals and health centers across Machakos County, including the level five hospital, which had been hardest hit. Patients and caregivers welcomed the announcement, expressing relief that essential medical services, including emergency care, maternal health, and routine treatments, would resume uninterrupted. County officials hailed the outcome as a demonstration of constructive dialogue between the government and health workers, emphasizing the importance of maintaining open communication to prevent future industrial action.