Trade unions representing health workers and civil servants in Kakamega County have thrown their weight behind the ongoing nationwide health workers' strike, demanding the immediate employment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff on permanent and pensionable terms, implementation of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and improved treatment of county employees.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Kakamega County Workers' Unions Caucus Chairperson Bernard Otieno said workers had exhausted all avenues of dialogue with the county government, accusing it of failing to address longstanding labour grievances despite years of negotiations.
"We have been engaging the county government on these issues since 2020, but nothing has been forthcoming. UHC staff have served on contract for years yet they continue performing the same duties as permanent employees. It is time the government honoured its commitment and employed them on permanent and pensionable terms," said Otieno.
He said the unions were standing in solidarity with striking health workers, arguing that repeated discussions without action had left workers with no option but industrial action.
Otieno further claimed the county government had failed to implement the 2025 Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) salary review and was yet to settle salary arrears owed to civil servants dating back to 2024.
He warned that additional unions, including civil servants, could join the strike if the government failed to address the outstanding issues.
Speaking on behalf of the Kenya Union of Environmental and Public Health Practitioners (KUEPHP), Western Region Branch Secretary Antony Ngaira urged both the national and county governments to permanently absorb UHC workers, saying they had played a critical role in healthcare delivery since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"These officers perform the same duties as other healthcare workers but continue to serve under uncertain employment terms. Confirming them on permanent and pensionable terms will improve morale and enhance service delivery," said Ngaira.
He also called on the Kakamega County Government to fast-track the signing of the union's recognition agreement, saying unions play a critical role in promoting sound human resource management.
Ngaira further challenged the government to invest more in preventive healthcare by recruiting additional public health personnel.
He noted that Kakamega County, with a population of about two million people, has only about 200 public health officers and technicians, a shortage he said contributes to increased pressure on hospitals due to preventable illnesses.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) maintained that its members would remain on strike until the county government signs and implements their Collective Bargaining Agreement.
KUCO Kakamega Branch Secretary Bonface Mutobera said clinical officers had issued both a 21-day and a subsequent 14-day strike notice before withdrawing their services, but the county government failed to engage them.
"As clinical officers, we have withdrawn services in all Level Three, Four and Five health facilities. We are ready to resume work immediately once the county government signs and implements our Collective Bargaining Agreement," said Mutobera.
He also criticised delays in implementing the Clinical Officers Career Guidelines and called for the permanent absorption of UHC workers, describing them as frontline personnel who continued providing essential healthcare services after risking their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mutobera further accused the county government of failing to recruit additional clinical officers, saying it had only been replacing employees who leave service instead of expanding the health workforce to meet growing demand.
The unions vowed to sustain the industrial action until their demands are addressed, warning that more workers could join the strike if governments fail to resolve the ongoing labour disputes.
