NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 13 – Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has dismissed claims of unpaid staff salaries, stating that all employees have been paid up to March 2026 even as nurses begin their strike.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Richard Lesiyampe said salary payments are up to date, but noted that statutory and third-party deductions are remitted through structured arrangements tied to the hospital’s cash flow and reimbursement cycles.
“A significant portion of the Hospital’s operational funding is derived from reimbursement frameworks under national health financing arrangements. Consequently, the timing of remittance processing is influenced by the broader healthcare financing cycle,” he said.
The response follows concerns raised by the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), which had flagged delays in remittances and threatened industrial action.
Lesiyampe said KNH is working closely with relevant government institutions to ensure all obligations, including pension contributions, are met within established administrative and regulatory frameworks.
He added that the hospital has also begun absorbing some contract staff into permanent and pensionable terms as part of efforts to improve staff welfare.
KNH reiterated its commitment to dialogue with unions and stakeholders to resolve the dispute, emphasizing the need to safeguard service delivery.
“As the country’s largest national referral and teaching hospital, KNH remains fully committed to uninterrupted provision of specialized healthcare services,” Lesiyampe said.
