KUTRRH Nurses Call Off Strike After Signing Agreement

About 800 nurses at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) have called off their planned strike following an agreement with the hospital management. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) General Secretary Seth Panyako announced that the union had officially and unconditionally withdrawn its 21-day strike notice after signing the hospital’s first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). This development ensures continued delivery of healthcare services without disruption.

The agreement, signed by Panyako on behalf of the union and KUTRRH Chief Executive Dr Zeinab Gura on behalf of the hospital management, addresses all concerns raised in the strike notice. The deal represents more than 800 members and provides for improved financial benefits, career progression, and better working conditions. Key improvements include reviewed nursing, uniform, and health risk allowances, as well as enhanced leave benefits reflecting different job classifications.

Under the agreement, the nursing service allowance has been raised from Ksh 20,000 to Ksh 30,000, uniform allowance from Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 25,000, and health risk allowance from Ksh 3,850 to Ksh 5,000. Additionally, the hospital has standardized hourly payment rates for general and specialized locum services and set aside funds to clear outstanding gratuities owed to eligible nursing professionals within the current financial year.

The agreement also provides a framework for career development, with promotions expected to remain an ongoing process. The union and hospital management will undertake a joint assessment of staff workload and existing skills gaps before internal advertisements are made for available and specialized positions. A Locum Policy will be developed through a participatory process to guide the engagement and payment of nurses undertaking additional duties.

Panyako said the withdrawal of the strike notice demonstrated the union’s commitment to protecting workers’ interests while ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services. He commended the hospital’s management, led by Dr Gura, Labour Officer Cleopas Obiero, and the KNUNM chapter leadership for their role in reaching the agreement. This development marks a significant milestone in the relationship between the hospital management and nurses.

Dr Gura noted that the CBA, approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, marked the beginning of meaningful engagements between the two parties. The signing marks the first CBA between the hospital management and nurses and midwives at the facility, establishing a formal framework for addressing their employment terms and professional interests.

The agreement is expected to improve staff welfare and working conditions, ultimately enhancing the delivery of healthcare services at KUTRRH. With the strike notice withdrawn, nurses and midwives can focus on their duties, and patients can continue to receive quality care. The collaboration between the hospital management and the union sets a positive precedent for future negotiations and partnerships.

Key points

• The agreement provides for improved financial benefits, career progression, and better working conditions for over 800 nurses and midwives at KUTRRH.