Nurses in Siaya County turned out in vibrant fashion to mark International Nurses Week at Bondo Sub-County Hospital, blending colourful celebrations with renewed hope following sustained advocacy on salary delays and working conditions.
Dressed in smart uniforms and carrying placards, nurses filled the hospital grounds with songs, traditional dances, poetry recitals, health education sessions, and awards honouring outstanding performers. The event drew local leaders, health officials, and community members, highlighting the critical role nurses play in county healthcare delivery.
Kennedy Hamisi, Branch Secretary and Chairperson of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Siaya Chapter, addressed the jubilant gathering. “We have a victory to celebrate,” Hamisi said. “The High Court sitting in Siaya has issued a directive favouring nurses in the industrial dispute involving salary delays and conducive working conditions.”
Nurses in Siaya have faced persistent challenges, including delayed salary payments, non-remittance of statutory deductions, staffing shortages, and strained working environments. These issues prompted repeated protests at county finance offices, demonstrations, and periods of industrial action throughout late 2025 and early 2026.
Hamisi praised members for their dedication: “Despite the difficulties, you have continued to serve our people with compassion and professionalism. This directive is proof that our persistent advocacy through dialogue and legal channels is yielding results.”
The celebrations aligned with the 2026 International Nurses Week theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” which underscores the need for fair working conditions, adequate staffing, and professional support to maximize nurses’ impact on community health.
Observed annually from May 6 to 12, the week provided Siaya nurses an opportunity to reflect on their contributions amid chronic understaffing and workload pressures, while reinforcing demands for timely payments, improved medical cover, better nurse-to-patient ratios, and safer workplaces.
Residents expressed solidarity. “Nurses are always on the frontline for us,” said one Bondo patient. “Their hard work and this celebration after pushing for better conditions give us confidence that services will keep improving.”
KNUN officials vowed to monitor full implementation of the court directive while maintaining constructive engagement with the county government on broader reforms. The union continues to push for lasting resolutions to prevent recurring disruptions in healthcare services.
As festivities continue across Siaya County, the strong message from Bondo Sub-County Hospital is clear: Siaya nurses remain deeply committed to quality patient care and will steadfastly advocate for the support and conditions they need to deliver effectively.
This milestone during Nurses Week reinforces the vital link between empowered health workers and stronger healthcare systems in Kenya. Stakeholders will closely follow how the latest developments translate into tangible improvements for both nurses and the communities they serve.
