Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi has urged striking nurses to return to work as negotiations continue over the implementation of a 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and other longstanding labour demands.
Speaking during a special session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) on Monday, Abdullahi said the agreement was signed “under duress” in the run-up to the 2017 elections but has never been implemented.
“This is a CBA that was signed under duress in the run-up to the elections in 2017, which has never been implemented,” he said.
Abdullahi said governors had attempted to negotiate with nurses but the dispute had become more difficult after the courts declared the strike illegal.
“We've tried to negotiate with the nurses, and while neutral issues are still ongoing, they called a strike. The court has said it's illegal, but they're still insisting,” he said.
He said the situation had put county governments in a difficult position, particularly where nurses continued to disregard court orders.
“So the position we've taken at council is that every governor and their public service board deals with the issue of not responding to the court orders in accordance with established HR procedures,” Abdullahi said.
The CoG chairperson, however, urged nurses to return to work while negotiations continue.
“We want to ask the nurses to go back to work. As we negotiate this matter,” he said.
His appeal comes as the nationwide nurses’ strike enters its 34th day, having started on July 29 after the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) failed to reach agreement with the government over a number of unresolved grievances.
The union is demanding the conclusion and implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA, implementation of the 2017 Return-to-Work Formula, permanent and pensionable employment for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nurses and implementation of career progression guidelines.
KNUNM is also seeking the reinstatement of 46 nurses dismissed by the Kisii County Government, alongside resolution of other employment and remuneration concerns.
Abdullahi said the CoG would continue engaging the nurses and other stakeholders to resolve the dispute, but noted that the council also had to comply with existing court orders.
The strike has disrupted services in public health facilities across the country, putting pressure on hospitals and patients as negotiations between the union, county governments and other state agencies continue.