KUTRRH and KNUNM officials hold up the signed agreement documents after the deal was struck on Friday 6 November 2026. (PHOTO: @kutrrh/X via People Daily)

About 800 nurses and midwives at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) have called off a strike that was set to begin on Monday 9 November, after signing the hospital's first Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Secretary-General Seth Panyako announced on Friday 6 November that the union had officially and unconditionally withdrawn its 21-day strike notice, issued on 15 October, after signing the CBA and a Memorandum of Agreement with the hospital.

The deal, signed by Panyako for the union and KUTRRH Chief Executive Dr Zeinab Gura for the hospital, covers more than 800 union members. The CBA was approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

Under the agreement, the nursing service allowance rises from KSh 20,000 to KSh 30,000, the uniform allowance from KSh 10,000 to KSh 25,000, and the health risk allowance from KSh 3,850 to KSh 5,000. Leave benefits have been enhanced to reflect different job classifications, and hourly payment rates for general and specialised locum services have been standardised.

The hospital has also set aside funds to clear outstanding gratuities owed to eligible nursing professionals within the current financial year, and promotions will remain an ongoing process under a new career development framework.

The strike notice had cited unpaid dues, delayed promotions, outstanding gratuity and the failure to conclude a CBA, alongside demands for conversion of eligible staff to permanent and pensionable terms, recognition of higher academic qualifications and payment of accrued arrears.

Panyako described the signing as a historic milestone for nurses and midwives at the facility. Dr Gura said the CBA marked the beginning of meaningful engagement between the hospital and its workforce.