By Aoma Keziah,
The country’s major health unions have closed ranks to demand urgent action from the national and county governments, warning that they will down tools within seven days if their grievances remain unaddressed.
The Health Union Caucus, a coalition bringing together the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHU), Kenya National Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUNAD), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KNUPT), and the Kenya Health Professional Society (KHPS), met in Nairobi to deliberate on what they described as “unjust treatment” of healthcare workers across the country.
At the heart of the dispute is the status of staff hired under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme, who remain on short-term contracts despite government assurances and the availability of funds. According to the caucus, the Ministry of Health already harmonized their salaries in line with guidance from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), yet county governments have failed to issue permanent and pensionable appointment letters.
Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of KMPDU, said the continued delays show a lack of goodwill.
“The government committed itself to strengthening UHC by employing workers on fair terms. What we see now is a deliberate effort to frustrate these workers, even though the money is available. We will not accept excuses anymore,” he stated.
The unions also took issue with what they termed interference by the Council of Governors in the mandate of the Public Service Commission (PSC). They claim governors have lobbied for the withdrawal of career guidelines for health workers, citing financial implications. The caucus insists that this undermines the independence of the PSC and blocks career progression pathways for thousands of professionals.
Alongside the UHC matter, they turned the spotlight on Kiambu County, accusing the devolved unit of widespread labor violations. They alleged that the county has refused to implement SRC salary structures, delayed salary payments, failed to promote staff, and provided a medical cover so inadequate that doctors in critical condition have had to rely on public fundraising for treatment.
“Our colleagues in Kiambu are being mistreated in ways that should not happen in a constitutional democracy. Salaries are delayed, union deductions stopped, and those who speak up are punished with transfers. It is pure victimization,” stated KUCO Secretary General George Gibore.
They further outlined a raft of demands, among them: Permanent and pensionable absorption of UHC, Global Fund, and CHERP workers, with back pay, full implementation of SRC-reviewed pay structures and settlement of arrears, immediate payment of delayed salaries in Kiambu and the reinstatement of statutory and third-party deductions, regularization of irregular county contracts and centralized negotiation of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), a parliamentary inquiry into county-level mistreatment of health staff and signing of a non-victimization clause in Kiambu.
The union officials warned that failure to meet these demands will leave them with no option but to mobilize health workers across the country for industrial action.
The caucus also warned that Kiambu County’s approach could set a precedent for other devolved units if not checked.
“If Kiambu succeeds in locking out unions and disregarding labour laws, what stops other counties from doing the same? This would take us back to the days when workers had no voice,” warned Nicholas Odipo, chairman KNUMLO.
The unions gave the national and county governments until the end of next week to resolve the matter, failure to which a nationwide strike will be called.
