Trans-Nzoia county nurses call off 42-day strike
By K24 Digital Reporter, September 27, 2025Patients in Trans Nzoia County can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), Trans Nzoia branch, called off a strike that lasted for 42 days.
The nurses ended the protracted health crisis after signing a monetary return-to-work formula with the County Government of Trans Nzoia.
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The strike was also called off following the commitment from Governor George Natembeya’s administration to begin negotiations, signing and registration of the 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
In an exclusive interview with K24 Digital on Friday, September 26, 2025, Trans Nzoia branch KNUNM’s Executive Secretary, Edward Cheruiyot, said their 12 conciliation talks bore good fruit.
“Our nurses have gone back to their workplaces and are busy rendering nursing services to our clients. We agreed that the return-to-work agreement dated November 2, 2017, shall be implemented by paying the uniform allowance as arrears by 20 March 2026,” Cheruiyot said.
Furthermore, he stated that allowances will be paid in three phases of Ksh5,000 for three financial years, translating to a Ksh15,000 increment by the 2027/2028 financial year.
The nurses also accepted an offer of Ksh10,000 as Nursing Services Allowances paid within three years. They also got Ksh1,150 added to their Ksh3,850 risk allowance.
Besides the monetary gains, the nurses’ spokesperson stated that the county government of Trans Nzoia is establishing a CBA negotiation committee to negotiate the 2025-2029 CBA. The process of negotiation is set to begin on Monday, September 29, 2025.
“We also agreed that the County Government of Trans Nzoia shall replace all nurses who have exited service since June 2025 by May 31, 2026, and an indent is to be released immediately for the employment of 50 additional nurses by January 31, 2026.
Additionally, the county government should explore an avenue to resolve the matter in court as soon as possible to allow the appointment of the 134 recruited nurses,” added Cheruiyot.
Further, Natembeya’s administration committed to remitting all third-party deductions by the 9th of every month and that not even one of the over 400 nurses who participated in the strike shall be victimised.