Professional Bodies Raise Alarm Over Impact of Nursing Strike

 By Faith wanza mueni 

Photo:NNAK President Collins Otieno Ajwang (center) speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

Professional healthcare associations have raised concern over the continued disruption of nursing services, warning that the situation could have far-reaching consequences for patient care, medical training and the future healthcare workforce.

The associations said the ongoing disruption is affecting healthcare facilities and limiting access to essential services, while also placing pressure on other health professionals who work alongside nurses in delivering patient care.

They noted that efforts are underway to obtain and verify additional facility-level data to establish the full extent of the disruption across the formal health system.

Beyond immediate patient care, the professional bodies warned that the situation is also affecting nursing, medical and clinical students who depend on functioning health facilities for clinical placements, practical training and mentorship.

According to the associations, prolonged disruption could delay students’ studies and compromise the preparation of the next generation of healthcare professionals.

“The professional bodies further emphasised that the disruption to nursing services has implications across the entire public health sector,” the statement said, noting that nurses work alongside doctors, clinical officers, midwives, specialists and other healthcare professionals.

The associations said the continued absence of nurses affects the functioning and continuity of care across the health system, particularly in specialised areas that require highly trained personnel.

They highlighted critical care, renal and neonatal nursing as areas where specialised services depend on professionals with years of focused training and experience.

“Retaining this expertise is essential to maintain complex health services and ensuring that patients continue to receive appropriate care,” they said.

The professional bodies also underscored the importance of coordinated healthcare teams in delivering maternal, newborn and child health services.

“Maternal, newborn and child health services depend on coordinated teams of healthcare professionals. We urge all stakeholders to find common ground and resolve the current impasse in a way that protects continuity of care and safeguards mothers, newborns, children and families,” the associations said.

They warned that the effects of prolonged disruption could extend beyond individual healthcare facilities to affect service delivery, patient safety, clinical training and the sustainability of the healthcare workforce.

“This is a concern for the entire health sector,” the associations said, adding that the consequences of prolonged disruption extend beyond individual facilities.

The professional bodies called on the national government, county governments, unions and other stakeholders to urgently engage and find a lasting solution to the impasse.

They stressed that the immediate priority should be restoration of safe and uninterrupted healthcare services while addressing the broader challenges facing the health sector.

The associations said their intervention was intended to bring both the professional and public health perspectives into the national conversation and draw attention to the consequences of continued disruption across the healthcare system.

They urged all parties to prioritise constructive engagement and reach an urgent resolution that would enable nurses to fully return to the bedside and allow Kenyans to access the healthcare services they need.

The National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) is among the professional bodies representing nurses in the country.