The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Kitui County Government over the alleged assault of a senior nurse by an official in the Governor’s office, according to a report by Pulse Kenya on 14 October. Counting from that date, the deadline falls in the first week of November.
What is alleged
According to union filings and eyewitness accounts cited in the report, Florence Munyithya, Kitui’s Deputy County Nursing Officer, was overseeing the commissioning of Ministry of Health projects at Voo Dispensary on the afternoon of Friday, 18 September. The county’s Chief Protocol Officer, named in the report as Gedion Mbingo James, allegedly arrived and berated staff over the event arrangements.
When Munyithya stepped in to clarify the protocol, he allegedly shouted that he “does not take instructions from women,” claimed he “could kill a person,” and swung at her. She blocked the first blow, and he allegedly tried a second before colleagues pulled him away. These are allegations and have not been tested; the report did not include a response from the official or the county government.
The union’s demands
- Immediate accountability from the Kitui County Government.
- Administrative and disciplinary action against the accused officer.
- Independent investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya).
“The Kitui County Government must answer for an egregious assault against a nurse,” KNUNM said in its statement. “An assault on one nurse is a direct assault on the entire nursing profession.” The union said it would not tolerate violence or intimidation against health workers, and has lodged formal complaints with oversight bodies rather than relying only on internal county discipline.
Part of a wider pattern
Kenyan nurses have faced a turbulent year: a nationwide strike over the collective bargaining agreement and the transition of Universal Health Coverage staff to permanent terms; a strike notice at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) expiring on 9 November; and the Ebola response, in which several health and care workers were among Kenya’s cases. Violence against health workers, from patients, relatives and sometimes officials, is a recurring concern across East Africa and globally.
The allegation that the official said he does not “take instructions from women” has particular resonance in a profession that is overwhelmingly female. WHO estimates that women make up about 70% of the global health and care workforce, and nearly 9 in 10 nurses.
If you are assaulted at work
- Get to safety and get medical care, and have your injuries documented.
- Report it to your manager in writing and through the incident system.
- Report to the police: assault is a crime, whoever commits it.
- Write down what happened, when, where, and the names of witnesses, as soon as possible.
- Contact your union: it can support you, represent you, and escalate.
- Look after your mental health: seek support, as the effects can last.
Related: KUTRRH strike notice · KNUNM defends JOOTRH nurses · Nursing Council of Kenya guide
Source: Pulse Kenya (14 October 2026), citing the KNUNM statement. The allegations have not been tested in any proceedings.