Clinical officers demand ouster of SHA officials

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has intensified its push for the removal of key officials at Social Health Authority (SHA), accusing them of incompetence and discriminatory practices.

The union protested, demanding the government fulfill commitments made in previous agreements while collecting signatures for a censure motion against SHA Chairperson Dr Abdi Mohamed and acting chief executive Robert Ingasira.

The motion, backed by Majority Leader Senator Aaron Cherargei, is expected to be tabled in Parliament.

It accuses SHA leadership of violating Articles 27, 43, 47, and 73 of the Constitution, which safeguard the rights to equality, health, fair administrative action, and ethical leadership.

According to the censure motion document, SHA’s refusal to empanel clinical officers has denied over 91 per cent of Kenyans access to healthcare at primary health facilities where clinical officers are the primary providers.

The motion argues that this exclusion is unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Additionally, the motion cites SHA’s failure to comply with directives from the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors, which required them to recognise clinical officers in line with the Social Health Insurance Act. 

This marks the second time this year that the KUCO has called for industrial action, citing the failure of the government to honor the 2024 return-to-work formula, integrate clinical officers into SHA, and absorb interns and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff into permanent and pensionable terms.

“They have denied clinical officers the rights to access health services and shown favoritism as they implement the Social Health Laws,” said KUCO Chairperson Peter Wachira said.

The officers staged demonstrations outside Afya House in Nairobi on Wednesday before proceeding to the SHA headquarters, formerly the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) offices, where Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Deborah Barasa and other health ministry officials was addressing a press briefing.

According to union boss Peterson Wachira and Secretary General George Gibore, the government has consistently sidelined clinical officers in the ongoing health sector reforms, particularly in the rollout of the SHA, a move they claim amounts to discrimination.

"The Social Health Authority board has been selectively empaneling only medical practitioners and dentists, disregarding clinical officers despite their crucial role in healthcare delivery," said George Gibore.

The strike comes barely a month after KUCO suspended an earlier industrial action for 21 days to allow negotiations with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Council of Governors (CoG).

With the deadline now lapsed, the union says the government has failed to meet its obligations, prompting the officers to resume protests

KUCO has also criticised the government for failing to absorb interns and UHC staff into permanent and pensionable positions. Many healthcare workers, they argue, continue to work under uncertain contract terms, affecting job security and service delivery.

Health CS Deborah Barasa acknowledged the grievances raised by the striking clinical officers but described the issue as a "human resource matter" that falls under the purview of the Ministry of Public Service.

"I am aware of the concerns raised by KUCO, and we are engaging with relevant stakeholders to resolve them. However, matters of employment and staff absorption are being handled through the appropriate channels," said CS Barasa during her press briefing.

She urged the clinical officers to call off their strike and allow further discussions with the government to find a lasting solution.

The ongoing strike by clinical officers threatens to cripple healthcare services, particularly in public hospitals and dispensaries, where they provide a majority of outpatient and specialised services.

This latest industrial action adds to a long history of strikes by clinical officers since the devolution of healthcare services, with over 100 protests recorded over the years.