All Clinical Officers To Go On Strike From Midnight Tonight
The announcement comes a week after the Ministry of Health announced the end of the nationwide doctors' strike which had been running for 56 days.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has announced that it will withdraw all clinical officers in the country from public health facilities starting at midnight tonight.
KUCO stated on X on Wednesday, May 15 that this followed the Employment and Labour Relations Court's (ELRC) warning to counties against harassing clinical officers who would be taking part in the strike.
"Pending amicable negotiations and resolution of dispute the Respondents by themselves, their agencies, officers or agents are hereby prohibited from harassing, intimidating, punishing or initiating or continuing disciplinary process against union members on account of raising the grievances in dispute and any proceedings in that regard are hereby stayed," read the orders in part, with the mention set for June 25, 2024, or soon thereafter to record compromise or further orders.
Kenya Union of Clinical Officer Secretary General George Gibore (centre) flanked by national chair, Peterson Wachira (right) and Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr Davji Bhimji during a past media briefing. /NATION MEDIA GROUP
"Our strike is protected, the court buttressed this by protecting our members from harassment or disciplinary processes by the 47 Counties and Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, we are withdrawing all Clinical Officers from Ministry of Health facilities from midnight today," KUCO announced.
Clinical officers in Kenya stand in for doctors in the provision of primary healthcare services. The strike therefore risks plunging the country into a fresh health crisis, especially in rural areas where there are no doctors and private hospitals are few and expensive.
Additionally, the strike will paralyse services in almost every public hospital in Kenya as clinical officers offer 99 per cent of outpatient clinical services.
The strike by clinicians entered day 45 but this is the first time KUCO is asking for complete downing of tools from all public health facilities.
The clinicians are demanding the conclusion of prolonged negotiations on its Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), talks that had stalled since 2017.
The Union also wants clinical officers to be confirmed as permanent staff with pensions, stating that while the Ministry of Health indicated budgetary readiness, the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) contracts under punitive terms.
KUCO also accused the Council of Governors' refusal to provide concurrence which has stalled progress, on the other hand, insistíng extension of UHC contracts under punitive terms.
The announcement comes a week after the Ministry of Health announced the end of the nationwide doctors' strike which had been running for 56 days.
This is after the government had reached an agreement with the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU), effectively ending the go-slow that has crippled healthcare services in the country.
