Health unions call nationwide strike from July 20 over unresolved grievances
Healthcare unions in Kenya have announced a nationwide strike beginning July 20 due to unresolved grievances regarding worker welfare, job security, and employment terms. The unions cite a lack of response from the Council of Governors regarding their demands for permanent employment status.
Why it matters
The strike threatens to disrupt public health services across the country, impacting thousands of patients and healthcare workers.
A section of UHC staff protest outside Afya House on July 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI Public health services across the country face disruption after the Health Union Caucus announced a nationwide strike beginning midnight Monday, July 20, over what they termed as failure by the Council of Governors (CoG) to address long-standing concerns over workers' welfare, job security and employment terms.
In a press statement issued Tuesday, the caucus said it had been left with no option but to call industrial action after what it described as weeks of silence following demands submitted on June 15.
The unions said repeated efforts to engage county governments had failed to yield progress, despite raising issues affecting thousands of healthcare workers across the country.
"The nationwide strike shall commence at 12:00 midnight on Monday, July 20, 2026," the statement reads.
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