Several health unions have issued a 14-day ultimatum to county governments, warning of a strike if grievances regarding delayed salaries, lack of medical coverage, and failure to remit statutory deductions are not addressed.
In a joint statement, Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), highlighted the widespread challenges facing health workers across the country. Among the issues cited are salary delays, non-payment of third-party deductions, and insufficient medical insurance for healthcare workers.
The unions involved include the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Officers (KNUPT), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), and Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUNAD).
Health workers in counties such as Meru, Machakos, Nairobi, Kakamega, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Vihiga have reportedly gone months without receiving their salaries. The unions state that these delays are affecting the ability of healthcare providers to perform their duties effectively.
Additionally, several counties have been accused of failing to offer comprehensive medical coverage for healthcare workers and withholding critical statutory deductions, including pension contributions, NHIF payments, union dues, and SACCO contributions.
The unions are calling on county governments to settle salary arrears and secure proper medical coverage for workers within two weeks. They emphasized that failure to resolve these issues will result in industrial action.
“These funds are essential for the financial stability of our members, and failure to remit them jeopardizes their access to basic services,” the unions stressed in their statement.
Health unions have urged the national and county governments to act swiftly to avoid a strike that could paralyze healthcare services nationwide.
