The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has embarked on a nationwide strike, accusing the government of high-handedness and neglect in addressing their long-standing grievances. The union, which represents clinical officers across the country, has raised concerns over what they describe as discriminatory practices by the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the government’s refusal to allow clinical officers to operate their own healthcare facilities.
According to George Gibore, the Secretary General of KUCO, the state has failed to respond to the union’s demands and has been evasive in addressing the issues affecting its members. Gibore pointed out that since the onset of devolution, the union has conducted over 100 strikes, yet none of them have led to meaningful changes. “We are being subdued as clinical officers to things that are not lawful and that is why we are saying we are not willing to take that,” Gibore told the press during the launch of the strike.
The KUCO leadership highlights several key issues that have fueled the strike, chief among them being the refusal by the government to address the grievances of clinical officers regarding the SHA. Gibore explained that despite numerous meetings and petitions, including one to the presidency, there has been no response or action from the government. This non-committal approach, according to the union, has left many healthcare workers frustrated and demoralized.
Mary Boniface, the KUCO National Treasurer, further accused the government of jeopardizing patient care under the SHA. She warned that the ongoing lack of commitment to resolving the issue could result in patients being denied essential health services. “We’ve had meetings with the former SHA chairman, we have even done petitions, but we’ve not received any response, and we feel they are not committed to solving this issue,” Boniface stated.
The strike, which affects thousands of clinical officers, has created uncertainty within the healthcare sector. With KUCO members now on strike, many patients across the country risk being deprived of critical healthcare services. As the government faces mounting pressure to address the union’s concerns, it remains to be seen whether the ongoing industrial action will lead to any meaningful dialogue and resolution of the issues at hand.
The situation highlights a larger challenge within the healthcare system in Kenya, where disagreements between healthcare workers and government institutions continue to hamper the delivery of quality care. The outcome of this strike could have significant implications for both the workforce and the patients who rely on clinical officers for their healthcare needs.
