Health Sector Caucus chairperson Perterson Wachira during a past strike. /KNUN/FBHealthcare workers drawn from various unions and associations have threatened to go on a nationwide strike unless their demands are met within 14 days.
This comes as Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff continue a 95-day strike, citing government inaction on critical employment and welfare issues, and following incidents of police brutality against health workers during peaceful demonstrations in Nairobi.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the unions under the Health Sector Caucus pointed out that UHC workers have been on strike for over three months due to what they describe as the government’s “failure to prioritise and address longstanding issues.”
The core grievances include harmonisation of salaries in line with Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) guidelines, absorption of UHC staff into the permanent and pensionable establishment, and payment of service gratuity for the period served under contract.
“These are not new demands, but basic rights that have been ignored for far too long,” the caucus declared, emphasising the urgency of their position.
The statement was signed by leaders from the Health Sector Caucus, including Peterson Wachira (chairperson), George Gibore (Kenya Union of Clinical Officers), Elias Mutuma (Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists), Odero Michael (Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians), Brown Ashira (Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union), Wycliffe Ogenya (CHESOA), and Pius Nyakundi (Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers).
In response to the grievances, the Health Sector Caucus outlined a set of “irreducible minimums” that must be addressed within 14 days to avert a nationwide strike:
First, the Ministry of Health and Council of Governors (CoG) must convene an urgent joint meeting with unions and stakeholders to agree on a framework for absorption of all UHC and Global Fund staff from July, 1, 2025, payment of outstanding arrears for Global Fund staff and payment of service gratuity for all contract periods served.
They also want the inspector General of Police to issue a public apology and take action against officers who assaulted UHC staff within seven days, failing which the unions will pursue legal action.
The Independent Police Oversight Authority (Ipoa) must investigate and prosecute the officers involved in the violence, they demanded.
The caucus said the alleged police brutality against their members occurred on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, during peaceful demonstrations.
Several health workers were reportedly assaulted and injured while exercising their democratic rights.
“This brutality is unacceptable, unconstitutional, and a direct affront to the values of democracy, justice, and human dignity,” the unions asserted.
“We remind the government that health workers are not enemies of the state but facilitators of economic and social advancement.”
The caucus directed all member unions to convene their National Executive and Advisory Councils to sanction a joint nationwide strike if the demands are not met within the stipulated period.
“We are prepared to take decisive action if our irreducible minimums are not conclusively addressed. The health and dignity of workers—and by extension, the nation—cannot be compromised any longer," the caucus said.
