The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) staged protests outside the Health Ministry office in Nairobi on Tuesday, decrying what they termed as unfavorable working conditions and low salaries. Led by Union chairman Peterson Wachira, the clinical officers marched from Green Park bus terminus to the Health Ministry offices, blaming the government for failing to address their concerns.
Wachira stated that the government is discriminating against health workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) contract by not absorbing them into Permanent and Pensionable contract basis as agreed upon last year. He highlighted that these health workers are being paid half salaries that do not match the work they are doing, which is discriminatory according to the Union’s constitution.
Among the major issues raised by the union are poor working conditions, low salaries, and lack of proper insurance cover. They demand that the government addresses these issues to end the 37-day medic strike that has paralyzed healthcare services across the country.
Union Secretary General George Gibore criticized the government for ignoring the demands raised by the clinicians and backing off from meetings aimed at resolving the strike. Gibore vowed that the medics will continue with their strike until the government settles the concerns raised and agrees on a return-to-work formula.
The clinicians were hired in April 2020 during the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic on a three-year contract to boost the pandemic response and the implementation of UHC. The Ministry had called on the UHC staff to be patient as the Public Service Commission works out modalities to ensure they are absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms.
