President William Ruto’s administration is confronting a fresh wave of industrial actions as workers from various sectors threaten to go on strike over unresolved pay issues. This comes at a time when the government is already grappling with a challenging economic environment. The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) and the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) have both issued strike notices, signaling the potential for widespread disruptions in public universities and state-owned healthcare facilities.
KNUN, led by Secretary-General Seth Panyako, issued a 21-day strike notice on December 23, 2024, citing the government’s failure to meet the demands outlined in the union’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Panyako expressed frustration over what he called discrimination against nurses, particularly in the implementation of pay deals that were promised but not fully delivered. He warned that if their pay demands are not met, the strike will continue indefinitely, affecting 47 county governments nationwide.
Similarly, UASU has given the government a 15-day ultimatum starting January 1, 2025, to implement the 2021-2025 CBA. The union criticized the government for failing to honor its commitment to pay lecturers new salaries, which were supposed to be reflected in their December paychecks, including arrears for October and November. Despite assurances from the Ministry of Education that the salary adjustments would be made, lecturers were left without the expected pay increase by the time they went on holiday in December.
These industrial actions are set to disrupt learning in public universities and strain the already burdened healthcare system. Experts warn that prolonged strikes could harm Kenya’s economic recovery, further exacerbating the country’s fiscal challenges. The government now faces the difficult task of addressing these industrial grievances while managing the ongoing economic pressures. As the countdown to the strikes begins, all eyes will be on how Ruto’s administration responds to these growing demands from key sectors.
