Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has issued a statement clarifying the alleged closure of the facility following the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako’s demands.
On April 12, Panyako stated that KNH would not be at work as of April 13 due to outstanding grievances and unpaid delays, which constituted unfair employment practices.
In addition, the KNUN Secretary General also noted that the lack of adequate funds by the facility has left several nurses on casual terms for between 4 and 6 years.
“Therefore, tomorrow nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital are, for the first time, going on strike. Kenyatta National Hospital has never had a nurses’ strike, but nurses have given me clear direction that tomorrow there will be no work at Kenyatta National Hospital,” Panyako said.
The facility, however, did not agree with the alleged nurses’ strike and has assured that the issue is currently being addressed.
According to the facility management, matters regarding the remittance timelines for statutory and third-party deductions, as well as broader staff welfare matters, were also being addressed to establish an institutional consultation mechanism.
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KNH Solution
Relevant government agencies, the health facility, and staff representatives are working together to restore order according to the KNH.
Additionally, the Hospital has confirmed that staff salaries have been processed and paid up to March 2026.
Further, like most public sector institutions, the settlement of statutory and third-party deductions has been undertaken through structured remittance arrangements linked to institutional cash-flow cycles and reimbursement processes.
A significant portion of the Hospital’s operational funding is also derived from reimbursement frameworks under national health financing arrangements, according to the Hospital.
The healthcare, however, noted that the the timing of remittance processing is, in part, influenced by the broader national healthcare financing and reimbursement cycle.
In an effort to resolve the delayed payment, KNH has continued to engage closely with the relevant government institutions to ensure that these processes proceed efficiently and that all obligations are addressed within the applicable administrative and regulatory frameworks.
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Kenytta National Hospital Pension and Staff Contract
Regarding the pension payment, the Hospital assured it will continue to operate within the established pension administration framework to ensure that both employer and employee obligations are managed in accordance with the applicable arrangements.
In response to most nurses being on casual terms, the Hospital stated that it has always regularized clinical staff in the past years.
Additionally, the Hospital reported that several nurses and health care professionals had already transitioned to Permanent and Pensionable terms.
According to the facility, further discussions were ongoing within the appropriate government and institutional frameworks to address the remaining cases of nurses on casual terms that require transition.
Despite the challenges of payment delays, the hospital management affirmed that the Hospital remains committed to constructive engagement with all the relevant parties to resolve the issues.
