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Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) Chair Peter Wachira addresses clinical officers on 5 March 2025. [David Gichuru, Standard]
The Universal Health Coverage staff have issued a one-week ultimatum to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to sort out their issues.
After a peaceful procession to the Ministry of Health headquarters yesterday, they are demanding urgent action from government officials following a long-standing human resource stalemate.
The demand follows a three-week deadline requested by CS Duale when he met the Health Sector Caucus (HSC) on April 1. He asked for time to familiarise himself with the issues raised, but as of Tuesday, four weeks had lapsed without formal communication until an invitation was sent on Monday evening.
“We couldn’t cancel the procession at the last minute based on a vague invite,” said Moses Baiyenia, National Trustee, Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO). “We had already mobilised our members across the country. If the ministry is serious, we expect action, not just meetings,” he added.
The staff are protesting salary delays, lack of gratuity, and delayed absorption into permanent and pensionable terms despite working under the government’s flagship UHC programme.
“Health workers can no longer be taken for granted. We have sacrificed and worked tirelessly, yet we are treated like casuals,” said Boris Mutua, a UHC staff member.
Duale has called for a meeting on Tuesday, May 6, but UHC workers say they will not settle for vague reassurances.
The unions warned that counties such as Nandi, Tharaka Nithi, Kirinyaga, and Embu have issued threats against UHC staff participating in industrial actions, an act they termed as intimidation and a violation of labour rights.
“We are aware of threats and letters targeting our colleagues in certain counties. We want to state clearly that this fight is not against the county governments, but against the system that continues to exploit health workers,” said Onchieku Mosiori, UHC vice chair.
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