On Monday, July 8, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) announced the end of their strike that had disrupted normal operations in public hospitals.
This decision followed negotiations with the Council of Governors (CoG) and the subsequent signing of a return-to-work agreement overseen by Muthomi Njuki, Chairperson of the Council’s Health Committee.
In compliance with the agreement, all clinical officers were instructed to resume their duties immediately, with a deadline of within 24 hours from the strike’s conclusion.
“We initiated our strike on April 1, following a seven-day notice, which was issued on March 25, and have maintained it until today, when we officially declare its conclusion through this return-to-work agreement,”
KUCO Secretary General, George Gibore stated.
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“Our members shall resume duty in their respective place of work starting today and not less than 24 hours from the date herein.”
KUCO ended their strike two days after President William Ruto established a Presidential Taskforce on Human Resources for Health.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court on May 9 ordered the employers to enter into a return to work agreement and register the same in court on June 25. The government had maintained that it lacks the resources to implement some of its demands such as the employment of more healthcare workers and their promotions.
Jacinta Rwamba, KUCO’s National Gender Secretary, will represent the organization on the task force.
The strike posed a significant threat to Kenya’s health sector, as clinical officers are crucial providers of primary healthcare services. Its resolution was particularly welcomed by the Ministry of Health, given that clinical officers handle 99 per cent of outpatient clinical services.
The clinical officers had been demanding the implementation of a 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between healthcare workers and the Ministry of Health. Negotiations stalled initially when the Council of Governors contested their role in the CBA.
“The issue has been implementation and prioritization; that there are no resources even to put the healthcare workers in a comprehensive medical cover that can guarantee them the medical services that they offer and that is why we are still on strike at this time,”
Gibore said.
Eventually, both parties agreed to negotiate, leading to the Council of Governors signing the return-to-work agreement.
