Laikipia To Hire 33 Nurses Within 2 Weeks

By Fatuma Rashid

The County Government of Laikipia has committed to advertise and hire 33 nurses on permanent and pensionable terms within 14 working days in a comprehensive return to work agreement that ended an industrial action and restored healthcare services.

The agreement, signed on Thursday, between the county and the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, requires nurses to resume duty within 24 hours, restoring operations across public facilities.

The dispute stemmed from a strike notice issued on March 13, 2026, with industrial action beginning March 23, before negotiations held on March 24, March 30, and April 1 culminated in the settlement.

Governor Joshua Irungu stated said the agreement was reached after negotiations that addressed the welfare of nurses while balancing the interests of the public, noting both sides made concessions to restore critical healthcare services in the county.

“I laud the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) for calling off the industrial strike in Laikipia County that saw nurses stay away from Laikipia Health Service facilities for more than a week now. The nurses will resume work within 24 hours,” he stated.

Central to the agreement is recruitment of 18 enrolled community nurses and 15 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates, alongside issuance of personal numbers within seven days for contract staff to regularize employment status.

The county further committed to prioritize nurses employed before January 2025 for permanent and pensionable terms, with full regularization targeted before July 1, 2026, to address longstanding contractual employment concerns among health workers.

To resolve staffing gaps, officials acknowledged that 73 nurses hired during the 2025 to 2026 financial year remain insufficient, prompting additional recruitment beyond the initial intake to stabilize service delivery across facilities.

The agreement also addresses stalled promotions and redesignations, requiring internal advertisements within 21 working days, with implementation scheduled for July 1, 2026, to support career progression and improve staff morale.

A joint technical committee comprising representatives from both parties will oversee implementation, convene its first meeting on April 8, 2026, and submit a progress report within 21 days to track compliance.

On financial concerns, the county pledged to engage lenders including SACCOs and commercial banks to waive penalties arising from delayed remittance of third party deductions affecting nurses’ loan repayments.

“The county also committed to increase budgetary allocation for health commodities and ensure continuous provision of diagnostic, theatre, emergency, and essential equipment to strengthen service delivery across public health facilities,” the Governor stated.

Further provisions guarantee unrestricted access to medical insurance cover within limits, outline phased payment of salary arrears in the 2026 to 2027 financial year, and support study leave approvals under a new policy framework.

The County confirmed that there would be no victimization of nurses who participated in the strike, while the union formally called off the industrial action, signaling a return to normal operations and improved labor relations.

Stephen Rutere, the national secretary general of KNUNM, said the union had established clear implementation timelines and expects the county government to fully honor its commitments to avoid future disruptions in healthcare service delivery.

He expressed optimism that the county would implement the agreement with the same urgency demonstrated during negotiations, emphasizing that timely execution will be critical in sustaining service delivery and preventing future industrial disputes.

The development comes a day after the County signed a return to work formula with the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), effectively bringing to strike by medical laboratory personnel.

This agreement paved the way for all medical laboratory technologists and officers under Laikipia Health Services to resume duty within 24 hours across all health facilities.

“The resolution marks a significant step in restoring full healthcare services and underscores our commitment to dialogue, collaboration, and uninterrupted service delivery to the people of Laikipia,” the Governor noted.

The union’s national chairman Nicolas Odipo said the union was grateful the County agreed and committed to work on a number of issues raised by the striking officials and during the high-stake meetings.

“Those agendas that we had raised, I believe that we have agreed with the timeline that we have set that these will be done. So we are happy that you have taken up all the responsibilities from yesterday. And today you have resigned,” said Shadrack Tarbei, county chair KNUMLO.