NAIROBI, Kenya – Clinical officers across Kenya will down their tools at midnight on Monday, citing the government’s failure to honor a return-to-work agreement signed last year.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) said its members had no choice but to strike after the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Council of Governors (CoG) failed to implement resolutions that were supposed to address their grievances.
“Sadly, the government has not met our demands as we agreed with them last month,” KUCO Secretary-General George Gibore told journalists.
Among the major sticking points is the exclusion of clinical officers from offering services under the newly launched Social Health Authority (SHA).
The union also accused the government of breaching last year’s agreement, which included commitments on promotions, comprehensive medical cover, and the transition of contract workers into permanent and pensionable positions.
KUCO Deputy Secretary-General Austin Oduor criticized the government for sidelining clinical officers in key health discussions, including Monday’s National and County Governments Health Summit, presided over by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
“As leaders of these unions, we were not invited and only learned about it in the media, as did the rest of Kenyans,” Oduor said.
The union is demanding immediate recognition of all clinical officers as licensed health providers under SHA, along with reinstating pre-authorization rights for specialists.
Gibore emphasized that the strike will continue until all their demands are met, raising concerns about disruptions in public hospitals if the standoff persists.
