Ruto gives officials one week to resolve health workers’ salary crisis

President William Ruto has directed national and county government officials to find a solution to the delayed payment of health workers’ salaries within one week, warning that continued delays could undermine ongoing reforms in the health sector.

Ruto issued the directive on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, during a town hall meeting held on the sidelines of the Kenya Health Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.

The President was responding to concerns raised by health workers, including nurses who said they were on strike over the failure to implement their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako told the President that nurses were still waiting for the implementation of their CBA, highlighting the growing frustration among healthcare workers.

The Council of Governors, through Health Committee chairperson Abdulswamad Nassir, acknowledged that delays in salary payments had affected health workers. Nassir also questioned why a CBA signed in 2017 had remained difficult to implement.

Ruto said delays in paying health workers were unacceptable, particularly when salaries remained unpaid several weeks after they were due.

If today is August 19 and July salaries have not been paid, then there is a problem, the President said, warning that such delays demoralise health workers.

He assured health workers that the national government was willing to intervene where necessary to help resolve the dispute.

Ruto further directed that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) be brought into discussions surrounding unimplemented collective bargaining agreements as officials seek a lasting solution.

The President’s directive comes as the government seeks to advance its Universal Health Coverage agenda amid persistent challenges involving healthcare workers, county governments and health sector unions.

The inaugural Kenya Health Summit provided a platform for the government, healthcare workers and other stakeholders to assess progress under the country’s ongoing health reforms and identify unresolved challenges.

Ruto’s one-week deadline now places pressure on both national and county authorities to resolve the salary arrears and wider labour disputes affecting healthcare workers.