KNH urges non-emergency patients to seek care elsewhere as strike strains hospital

Kenyatta National Hospital Accident and Emergency Section. [File, Standard]

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has urged patients seeking non-emergency care to consider other health facilities as the ongoing health workers’ strike continues to push patient numbers up at the national referral hospital.

In a statement, the hospital said the strike has increased patient volumes, resulting in congestion, long queues, extended waiting times and delays in accessing treatment, particularly for non-emergency services.

“As a national referral hospital, KNH is receiving more patients who would ordinarily access services at county and other health facilities. This has resulted in longer waiting times and delays, particularly for emergency services,” KNH said in a statement.

“Clients seeking non-emergency care are encouraged to consider other hospitals closer to them, where appropriate, to ease pressure on KNH and facilitate timely access to care,” the hospital added.

The multi-county industrial action has disrupted healthcare services across the country, with nurses, clinical officers and other health workers downing their tools over unimplemented Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), unpaid salaries and other employment grievances.

The disruption has pushed more patients towards referral facilities such as KNH, Kenya’s largest public referral and teaching hospital, to access services unavailable at county hospitals.

The strike has also left low-income families facing difficult choices, with some forced to delay treatment or seek care in more expensive private and faith-based facilities, potentially exposing them to heavy financial burdens.

Medical training has also been affected, with medical and nursing students in public institutions experiencing disruptions to their clinical rotations and internships.

Addressing striking health workers during a town hall at the Kenya Health Summit, President William Ruto directed national and county government officials, alongside the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), to resolve the salary deadlock within one week.

The Council of Governors (CoG), however, has maintained that the strike is illegal and directed county governments to initiate disciplinary action against participating health workers.

The unions have rejected the threats, maintaining that they will continue with the strike until their demands are addressed and the agreed terms formally signed and implemented.

Their demands include the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreements, the immediate payment of salary arrears, the absorption of UHC workers into permanent and pensionable terms, career promotions, statutory remittances, and improved working conditions.

As the strike continues, patients remain caught between disrupted services at county hospitals and increased pressure at the national referral facility, leaving many with limited options for timely and affordable care.