Patients in Machakos County are increasingly suffering as the ongoing nurses’ strike continues to paralyze services across public health facilities. At Machakos Level Five Hospital, one of the region’s main referral centers, wards that are usually bustling with medical staff now sit nearly silent, with many patients reportedly left without essential care. The strike, now in its sixth day, stems from a dispute between nurses and the county government over the implementation of a collective bargaining agreement that was to guarantee salary increases and improved working conditions.
The effects of the industrial action have become more visible with each passing day. Families seeking treatment are being turned away, while those already admitted say they have been forced to fend for themselves. Some patients claim they are being discharged before they are stable enough to go home due to the staffing shortage. We are suffering here, it’s not our fault, one patient said. You are discharged and told to go home when you can’t even walk. Another patient caring for a relative with severe burns said, He has not received any care since last week. He is not being washed, and no treatment is being provided. The situation has sparked growing concern over deteriorating health conditions and possible long-term medical complications.
Nurses insist their strike is justified, arguing that the county government has failed to honor legally binding salary agreements. They maintain that they will not return to work until the county implements the negotiated wage adjustments and improves the work environment. Meanwhile, county officials say they are in talks with union representatives to resolve the standoff but have not yet committed to a clear timeline or solution. The standoff has placed the health system under severe strain, as doctors and clinical officers are also facing increased workloads with limited support.
Residents fear the situation could escalate into a full-blown health crisis if no agreement is reached soon. Patient welfare groups and local leaders are now urging both sides to prioritize dialogue, warning that the continued impasse puts vulnerable lives at immediate risk. The coming days will be critical as negotiations either yield progress or prolong a crisis that has already left many suffering in silence.