The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has issued a 21-day nationwide strike notice, accusing the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors (CoG) of failing to honour a deal reached after last year’s prolonged industrial action.
The union says the government has not implemented key commitments in the 2024 return-to-work agreement, including promotions, redesignations, improved pay, and the absorption of thousands of clinical officers into permanent and pensionable terms.
Speaking during a special delegates’ meeting in Machakos, KUCO National Chairman Peterson Wachira said the union had exercised patience for more than a year, but the government had shown no intention of fulfilling its obligations.
“It is never our wish to go on strike. It is now evident that CS Duale and the Council of Governors are the ones desirous of overseeing a strike,” Wachira said, warning that all clinical officers across the 47 counties would withdraw services if the agreement is not implemented within three weeks.
KUCO Secretary-General George Gibore said the Ministry of Health and county governments had repeatedly assured workers that the CBA would be effected after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) confirmed funding but ,none of the promises had materialised.
He noted that clinical officers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme and other contracts continue to operate without job security despite commitments to place them on permanent terms.
The union also accused the government of dragging its feet on career progression guidelines and failing to fast-track contracting of clinical officers and their facilities under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Wachira said the union had reached its limit:
“Our members have been extremely patient. All we are asking is for the government to implement what it willingly signed.”
A history of unfulfilled agreements
KUCO’s frustration has deepened since the 99-day nationwide strike in 2024 that ended only after the CoG and the Ministry of Health signed a return-to-work formula. The union says most of the key clauses from that agreement remain untouched.
Earlier this year, clinical officers also issued a 14-day notice protesting exclusion and what they described as “discriminatory treatment” under the new Social Health Authority structure.
If the government fails to meet the union’s demands within the 21-day window, KUCO says clinical officers will down their tools in all public hospitals, county facilities and referral centres — a move likely to cripple essential health services nationwide.
