Public healthcare services across Kenya remained disrupted on Wednesday as health workers staged a nationwide strike across all 47 counties, demanding permanent and pensionable employment for about 7,450 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers.
Footage shows healthcare workers marching through Nairobi, chanting and gathering outside the Ministry of Health, carrying banners demanding permanent jobs and better working conditions.
Peterson Wachira, Chairperson of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), said patients were paying the price for leaders’ failure to act.
“Many patients are unable to access the health care services because the leaders they elected have decided to neglect their duty. They have decided to be inactive,” Wachira said.
Wachira noted that 8.9 billion Kenyan shillings had already been allocated to place UHC workers on permanent and pensionable terms, but county governments had yet to implement the plan.
Austin Oduor, KUCO National Deputy Secretary, called on Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to issue permanent employment letters, saying the dispute had become ‘a game of cat and mouse’.
“We don’t want memos, we don’t want meetings. What we want are the PNP letters. No more, no less,” stressed Carol Macharia, a protester.
Healthcare workers also warned the strike was putting patient care at risk.
“We are not guaranteeing that the tests you are getting are correct <…> we are not guaranteeing that the exposure to X-rays is the correct exposure you are getting. We are not guaranteeing your safety,” said Amon Matara.
The affected workers were recruited under Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage programme on fixed-term contracts.
While the government says it remains committed to placing them on permanent and pensionable terms, unions say the plan has been delayed for years.
Source: Viory
