Nurses in public hospitals in the city have reportedly officially joined their counterparts in the strike. Others in medical training colleges are also expected to withdraw their services over the weekend.

Nurses in public hospitals in various parts of the country have been on strike since December 3. While announcing the nation wide strike, National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako said the nurses would not return to work until the government recognised the their union - Kenya National Union of Nurses - saying it was a constitutional right for workers to be represented by a trade union.

The nurses also demanded the immediate implementation of all approved allowances totalling 130,000 per month.

Meanwhile a patient is reported to have died at the Coast provincial general hospital as a result of the ongoing nurses' strike. Patients who are unable to seek alternative services at private hospitals say the situation is getting worse

More than 200 in-patients at the Malindi District Hospital were discharged on wednesday due to the strike. Patients were turned away from the hospital that serves the North Coast upto Tana River and Lamu and had to seek treatment at private clinics and hospitals.

District Medical Superintendent officer Morris Buni said some services had been suspended at the hospital until the strike is resolved.He said the patients had to be discharged because there were no nurses to care of them.