A group of nurses working at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital has come forward with claims that they have spent more than five years serving on rolling three month contracts despite carrying out the same duties as permanent government employees.
The nurses say the situation has left dozens of healthcare workers trapped in job insecurity while continuing to provide frontline mental health services at Kenya's national referral hospital for psychiatric care.
The allegations, raise questions about employment practices within one of the country's most important public health institutions.
According to the whistleblowers, many of the affected nurses were first employed in June 2021 and have remained on renewable three month contracts ever since.
The complainants say their work has never been temporary.
Every day they report to the same wards as permanent nurses, care for the same psychiatric patients, work the same day and night shifts and face the same occupational risks, including assaults from violent patients, exposure to infectious diseases and other workplace hazards.
Despite carrying out identical clinical responsibilities, the nurses allege they continue to receive significantly lower pay and fewer employment benefits than colleagues employed on Permanent and Pensionable terms.
According to the whistleblowers, many contract nurses earn about KSh30,000 per month, receive no risk allowance despite working in a specialised mental health facility and have no meaningful career progression after years of uninterrupted service.
The nurses say the most difficult part is the uncertainty.
Every three months they reportedly wait to learn whether their contracts will be renewed, despite having served continuously for years.
The complainants believe the continued use of short term contracts for work that is clearly permanent raises serious legal and constitutional questions.
They point to Article 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination, Article 28, which protects human dignity, and Article 41, which guarantees every worker the right to fair labour practices.
The whistleblowers also argue that the situation deserves examination under the Employment Act, particularly the provisions dealing with continuous employment and minimum employment standards.
The nurses say they have not remained silent.
According to the complainants, they have written to the hospital management, sought intervention from the Ministry of Health, engaged the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) and participated in conciliation efforts.
Despite those efforts, they say little has changed.
The whistleblowers also describe what they call a climate of fear within the institution.
According to the nurses, many employees are reluctant to speak publicly because they fear their contracts may not be renewed or that they could face other forms of victimisation.
Whether justified or not, they say that fear has discouraged many workers from raising concerns openly.
The nurses argue that this is not simply an employment dispute affecting one hospital.
They say it raises broader questions about how contract healthcare workers are treated across Kenya's public health sector, particularly in specialised referral hospitals where experienced staff are essential to patient care.
The whistleblowers say they are ready to support their claims with employment contracts dating back to 2021, payslips, duty rosters, official correspondence and records of previous attempts to resolve the matter through the relevant authorities.
The concerns now place responsibility on the leadership of Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, including Chief Executive Officer Dr Juliet K. Mutiso, to explain why nurses who have reportedly served continuously for more than five years remain on renewable short term contracts.
Questions are also likely to be directed at Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga, the Public Service Commission, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, asking what steps have been taken to address the concerns raised by the affected nurses.
If the allegations are established, the matter may also warrant examination by the Employment and Labour Relations Court, particularly on whether repeated short term contracts are being used for work that is permanent in nature.
Below is the complaint received.
Hello Cyprian.
I'm reaching out to bring to your attention what I believe is a serious labour injustice affecting over 100 casual nurses at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Since June 2021, we have served under renewable three-month contracts, yet for more than five years we have never been absorbed into Permanent and Pensionable (P&P) terms.
Despite working in Kenya's largest mental health referral hospital, we: • Perform the same duties as P&P nurses. • Work the same shifts and face the same occupational risks. • Earn only a consolidated net salary of about KSh 30,000–32,000, while P&P nurses doing the same work earn over KSh 80,000. • Have no annual leave. • Have no maternity leave. • Receive no risk allowance. • Have no job group or career progression. • Have no meaningful employment benefits despite years of continuous service.
Meanwhile, our P&P colleagues have progressed professionally to Job Group K while we remain stagnant after more than five years of dedicated service.
We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal pay for equal work, recognition of our service, and absorption into Permanent and Pensionable terms.
We believe this is a matter of public interest involving labour rights, fairness, and the dignity of healthcare workers. We would be grateful if you could highlight our plight and help amplify our voices.
Thank you for your time and consideration.