Nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital have officially called off their strike following an agreement with hospital management that includes the hiring of 200 new staff members and an increase in allowances.
The decision brings relief to patients who had been affected by disrupted services at the country’s largest referral hospital. The strike had raised concerns over staffing shortages, working conditions, and delayed remuneration, which nurses said had made it difficult to deliver quality care.
Following negotiations, hospital management agreed to address key grievances raised by the health workers. Central to the agreement is the recruitment of 200 additional staff, a move expected to ease the workload on existing nurses and improve service delivery across various departments.
In addition to the hiring plan, the hospital also committed to reviewing and increasing allowances for nurses, a long-standing demand that had contributed to industrial unrest. The adjustment is expected to improve morale and retention of skilled healthcare workers.
Union representatives welcomed the agreement, noting that it reflects progress in addressing systemic challenges in the public healthcare sector. They emphasized that while the strike has been suspended, continued engagement will be necessary to ensure full implementation of the agreed terms.
Hospital management assured staff and the public that operations will resume normalcy immediately, with a focus on restoring patient confidence and reducing service backlogs that accumulated during the strike period.
The resolution marks a significant step toward stabilizing Kenya’s public health system, particularly at Kenyatta National Hospital, which handles thousands of patients daily from across the country.