Kindiki Urges Swift Talks to End to Nurses Strike

Speaking during a special session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council held in Karen, Nairobi, he stressed that the continued withdrawal of labour poses a serious threat to healthcare delivery across the country. The appeal comes as patients in public facilities continue to face reduced services and delayed treatment.

The industrial action, which has stretched for weeks, centres on long-standing demands including the finalisation of a collective bargaining agreement, career progression guidelines and the absorption of certain health workers onto permanent terms. Nurses have maintained that they are prepared to resume duty once concrete commitments are implemented, yet progress has stalled amid disagreements over timelines and funding responsibilities between national and county levels. Kindiki’s intervention places renewed pressure on the key institutions responsible for salaries, employment terms and service delivery to prioritise dialogue over further delay.

Healthcare systems in many counties have already felt the strain, with routine clinics, emergency care and specialised services operating under severe constraints. Families seeking treatment for chronic conditions or urgent medical needs have been forced to seek alternatives, often at higher personal cost, while facilities struggle to maintain even basic staffing levels. The deputy president framed the situation as one requiring immediate collective action rather than prolonged negotiation, warning that every additional day of disruption compounds risks to public health and erodes trust in the system.

By convening the discussion within the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council, Kindiki positioned the strike as both a labour and fiscal matter that demands coordinated solutions. The forum brings together national and county leaders who share responsibility for health financing and workforce management, offering a platform where competing priorities can be aligned. Officials present were reminded that unresolved pay and employment issues have repeatedly disrupted services in recent years, making sustained engagement essential if similar crises are to be avoided.

The call for urgent engagement leaves the door open for a negotiated settlement that could restore services while addressing the core concerns of frontline staff. As talks are expected to intensify in the coming days, the focus remains on whether the involved parties can translate statements of intent into practical agreements that stabilise the health sector and protect the well-being of citizens who depend on it.