Healthcare Workers Issue 14-Day Strike Notice Over Lack of Payment Under UHC Deal
- Healthcare workers in Kenya, including doctors and nurses, have threatened to go on strike within the next two weeks
- The workers are demanding urgent action over several grievances, including nonpayment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff salaries
- They want the government to allocate KSh 3.9 billion to employ all UHC staff on permanent and pensionable terms
Bonface Kanyamwaya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over 10 years of experience in finance, economics, business, markets, and aviation, offering insights into Kenyan and global trends.
More than 8,000 healthcare workers in Kenya have threatened to down their tools within two weeks to demand their pay under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme, among other grievances.
Source: Twitter
Why do UHC doctors want to go on strike?
In a joint strike notice, the workers said the Kenyan government has failed to provide KSh 3.8 billion for full salary payment for UHC nurses, clinical officers, lab officers, and other cadres involved in the UHC programme.
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They further highlighted that the contracts for UHC staff are unfair, especially compared to their counterparts in permanent and pensionable establishment positions.
UHC interns have also faced delays in the payment of gratuities, contrary to employment regulations and standards.
"Given the foregoing, the Unions demand that all UHC and Global Fund staff be absorbed from 1 July 2025, payment of outstanding arrears for Global Fund staff, and payment of service gratuity for the period served under contract.
"The caucus has directed the respective Unions to convene their National Executive Councils and Advisory Councils to sanction a joint nationwide strike if these demands are not conclusively addressed within the next 14 days," said Peterson Wachira, chairperson of the Health Sector Caucus in the memo to the government, a copy that was seen by TUKO.co.ke.
The workers’ union stated that UHC staff were initially recruited under one-year internship contracts to bolster efforts in achieving Universal Health Coverage and combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Ministry of Health later employed approximately 9,000 individuals on three-year UHC contracts, deploying them to various county governments.
Despite their diligent service, UHC staff have faced discriminatory and unfair terms of service, resulting in dissatisfaction and demotivation.
UHC health workers have already been on strike for 95 days due to the government’s failure to prioritise and address longstanding issues, said the workers' representatives in the notice.
The looming strike, set to happen within the next two weeks if the concerns are not addressed, is likely to paralyse operations across major public hospitals in Kenya.
These workers play an integral role in supporting day-to-day operations in hospitals spread across the country.
They have been trying to engage the government in recent months to resolve all outstanding issues, but their efforts have been in vain.
Source: Original
CS Duale transfers all UHC staff to the county payroll
In related news, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale moved the payroll for all UHC staff to county governments on Wednesday, May 14.
The change, expected to take effect starting July 1, 2025, has been protested by healthcare workers.
They say the government has been delaying their contracts and paying them unequally, at a time when they feel they lack job security.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
