Nyamira: Health services paralysed as striking nurses take to the streets
Nurses in Nyamira County staged a peaceful protest on Friday, May 16, 2025, walking out of health facilities and taking to the streets to demand improved working conditions, delayed salaries, and fairness in promotions.
Clad in uniform and wielding placards, the health workers marched through the town centre before addressing the press.
The strike, which has already disrupted services at several hospitals and dispensaries, reflects mounting frustration over what nurses describe as persistent neglect by the county administration.
Their demands centre around the full implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) previously agreed upon with the Nyamira County Government, which the nurses claim has been ignored.
“Nurses ambao wako common establishment wenye wako 83 walikua wapromotiwe wote bila kutoa ata mmoja,” Samson Mariba, Chairman of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Nyamira chapter, said.
The striking nurses also condemned what they described as intimidation tactics from county officials seeking to coerce them back to work.
“Tunawaambia vitisho zenu hatuogopi. Mahali imefikia hatutawaogopa,” Justin Moriasi, KNUN’s Coordinating Secretary in Nyamira, said.
“Wale munapita kwa hospitali munaanza kutishia wauguzi, tunasema haturudi kazi na hio madharau mko nayo. Kama munajua wauguzi si watu wa maana, mbona muna babaika munaanza kutembea na magari munaanza kututafuta,” he added.
Lucy Moraa, the union’s treasurer, reinforced the union’s resolve, insisting the strike would continue until the county government addresses their grievances.
“Si tunaendelea na mgomo mbaka siku ile government ikiona mgomo imetosha ndo tutarudi kazi. Lakini our members, sisi kama union ndo tumeitisha mgomo na sisi ndo tutamaliza hio mgomo. So ukirudi hospitali at your own risk because hatutajua umeenda kufanya nini,” she said.
Attempts to reach Nyamira County health officials for comment on the nurses’ demands were unsuccessful by press time.
As the strike enters its next phase, residents across the county remain concerned about access to healthcare services, particularly in rural facilities that are heavily reliant on public nurses.
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Martin Oduor
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