Healthcare workers employed by the Nairobi City County Government have announced an impending strike due to ongoing frustrations with delayed salaries, unfulfilled agreements, and what they describe as continuous neglect by their employer.
Speaking to the media, the workers stated that despite numerous meetings and several agreements signed over the past two years, the county government has not upheld its commitments. Their most pressing worry is the unpaid salaries for December, a situation they claim has not been properly explained by any responsible county official. They argue that this underscores a concerning disregard for the wellbeing of health workers.
The workers pointed out that while other counties have worked to stabilize salary payments, Nairobi continues to fall short, demoralizing staff in an already strained health sector. They noted that the situation has worsened due to a failure to adhere to established public service policies and professional guidelines.
Key grievances include the non-implementation of signed return-to-work agreements, delayed and unjust promotions, failure to confirm eligible staff into permanent and pensionable positions, as well as the neglect of PSC-approved schemes of service and career frameworks. They also mentioned severe staff shortages due to the lack of replacements for workers who have retired, resigned, or passed away, resulting in burnout among remaining personnel.
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Other concerns involve delays in remitting statutory deductions, the failure to implement the SRC 2024 salary increases, overdue gratuity payments for former NMS staff, unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreements, and unreliable medical insurance coverage.
The health workers announced that they issued a seven-day strike notice on 8th January 2026. If the county government does not address their demands within this timeframe, they will initiate a full strike starting on 16th January 2026 at 12:01 a.m.
They have informed the public to make alternative arrangements for healthcare services, warning that county health facilities will be impacted if the strike proceeds.
