President William Ruto’s administration is facing a new wave of industrial unrest as workers from key sectors prepare to strike over unmet salary demands, potentially disrupting public services nationwide.
Multiple unions, including the University Academic Staff Union and the Kenya National Union of Nurses, have issued strike notices, with actions expected to begin later this month. The strikes are likely to affect education at public universities and healthcare services in state-run hospitals.
Knun issued a 21-day strike notice on 23 December, accusing the government of neglecting its members, particularly in the implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement. The union’s Secretary General, Seth Panyako, criticized the government for failing to address longstanding issues affecting nurses.
“We have resolved as a union to issue a 21-day strike notice to all 47 county governments,” Panyako said. “We have supported this government, but our silence is being misinterpreted. We will continue pushing until our demands are met.”
Uasu, which staged a partial strike last semester, has given the government a 15-day deadline, starting 1January , to implement the 2021-2025 CBA. The union’s organizing secretary, Onesmus Mutio, expressed frustration that the government failed to honor an agreement for new salary payments to be included in December’s pay.
“We saw a circular from the PS instructing universities to prepare for new salaries, but lecturers returned from the holidays without the promised pay,” Mutio said. “The salary adjustments, including arrears for October and November, were not implemented as agreed.”
The strikes add to mounting pressure on Ruto’s administration, which is already struggling with economic challenges. Experts have warned that prolonged industrial action could further destabilize the country’s economic recovery.
The Uasu strike was temporarily suspended on 23 November after a return-to-work agreement with the Ministry of Education, but the union now insists that the terms must be fulfilled or the strike will resume.
As industrial action looms, both unions are steadfast in their commitment to securing the wage increases promised under previous agreements. The outcome of these disputes could have wide-reaching consequences, particularly for the education and healthcare sectors in Kenya.
