NTV Kenya reported on 21 August that the national nurses and midwives’ strike through KNUNM, which started on 29 July, was continuing [E1][E3]. The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives had told members the day before to remain firm until demands were met, after the Council of Governors refused further CBA talks unless the strike was called off [E2]. TV47 put disruption in more than 20 counties and an influx at Kenyatta National Hospital [E1].
KNH, in a 21 August statement carried by the Standard, said the ongoing health workers’ strike had increased patient volumes from county facilities, with congestion, long queues and delays, especially for non-emergency care [E1]. The hospital said it remains open for emergency and critical care and asked clients seeking non-emergency treatment to use hospitals closer to them [E1]. That is a referral hospital describing a diverted load, not a closure [E1].
The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Mombasa, Justice Monica Mbaru, had already suspended the July strike notices and directed KNUN to instruct members employed by the 47 counties to resume duty pending hearing [E4]. County labour officers were to record attendance. Compliance was limited. Union leadership maintained that only head office could end a national action and that the 2017 return-to-work agreement, the 2025–2029 CBA, UHC absorption letters and promotions still sat unsigned or unimplemented [E2][E4].
Homa Bay and Migori had local deals and resumed. Tharaka Nithi claimed a full local return. Nakuru, a Coast UHC cohort, Kericho, North Rift counties and Siaya were still reported disrupted in 19–21 August copy [E1]. The national union had earlier disputed a branch’s power to call off a national strike [E2]. Pay and letters sit mostly at county level, with SRC, the health ministry and labour in the room [E2][E4].
No nationwide official count of lost bed-days or unpaid July salaries was in the 21 August primaries [E1]. The KNH diversion notice is the hardest operating artefact of the day [E1]. A court order that does not refill a county ward is the other [E4].
Week four is the fact. Whether SRC issues a no-objection letter, whether UHC nurses receive appointment papers, and whether KNUNM’s head office posts a call-off are later clocks [E2][E4]. Friday’s record is a continuing strike, a crowded national referral hospital, and a court order that has not ended the action [E1][E4].