KUCO Issues 7-Day Strike Notice
Starting February 18, 2025, 12am
KUCO has given the government a 7-day strike notice, citing failure to honour their promises on employment terms and benefits.
Clinical officers working under the UHC program have accused the government of total neglect despite many petitions, memoranda and official communication.
Grievances
- Salary Harmonization: They want their salaries to be aligned with civil service salaries.
- Gratuity Payments: They are demanding immediate payment of gratuity for the years they have served under UHC contracts.
- Permanent and Pensionable Terms: They want to shift from contractual employment to permanent and pensionable terms.
- NSSF Contributions: They are asking for remittance of NSSF deductions which have not been submitted for the period they have served.
- Outstanding Salary Arrears: They are demanding payment of May 2024 salaries.
Government Breaches Agreement
KUCO has also accused the government of breaching the Return-to-Work Agreement (RTWA) signed on January 14, 2025 between the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors (CoG).
They had suspended a strike through a letter dated January 22, 2025 for 21 days which ends on February 17, 2025.
None of the agreed resolutions have been implemented and KUCO is resuming industrial action.
Impact of the Strike
- Healthcare services will be affected in public hospitals, especially in rural areas where clinical officers are key in primary healthcare delivery.
- UHC program will be disrupted affecting millions of Kenyans who rely on public health facilities.
- Crisis in the health sector as doctors and nurses are also complaining over poor working conditions.With just days to go KUCO should be engaged now!