Health Care Workers threaten strike over unmet demands from County Governments
Health care workers across Kenya are on the brink of an industrial strike following a 14-day notice issued to over 30 county governments. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), along with several other unions, has criticized 40 county governments for failing to adhere to agreements outlined in their collective bargaining agreements.
Led by KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, the unions have highlighted several critical issues: unpaid salaries, inadequate medical coverage, and non-remittance of third-party deductions.
The groups involved include the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Officers (KNUPT), Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU), and the Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUNAD).
Dr. Atellah expressed grave concerns about the ongoing issues affecting healthcare workers, who have faced delayed or unpaid salaries for up to three months. Counties such as Meru, Machakos, West Pokot, Kakamega, Nairobi, Embu, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, Nyamira, Mombasa, Kajiado, Migori, Trans Nzoia, Vihiga, and Bungoma are notably impacted.
The delays have caused severe financial hardships, impacting workers’ ability to commute and support their families, thus compromising their capacity to deliver essential healthcare services.
The unions also criticized the lack of comprehensive medical cover, which breaches Section 34(1) of the Employment Act. This act mandates that employers provide proper medical care for employees, a requirement many counties have reportedly ignored, leaving healthcare workers vulnerable when they fall ill.
Furthermore, the non-remittance of third-party deductions, such as bank loans, SACCO contributions, pensions, union dues, and NHIF payments, has led to loan defaults, damaged credit ratings, and denial of crucial medical services for workers.
Dr. Atellah warned that failure to meet these demands would compel the unions to initiate industrial strikes to protect the rights and well-being of healthcare workers. He urged the national and county governments, along with relevant authorities, to take immediate action to resolve these issues.
“The future of Kenya’s healthcare system and the well-being of our healthcare workers depend on immediate and decisive action,” Dr. Atellah stated.
The unions remain steadfast in their demand for justice and improved working conditions for healthcare workers, emphasizing the critical role these professionals play in maintaining public health across Kenya.
