Nairobi, Kenya – December 22, 2025 – Kenya’s already strained public healthcare system is teetering on the precipice of collapse as clinical officers, the bedrock of primary care, commence an indefinite nationwide strike at midnight tonight.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has sounded the alarm, citing years of unheeded grievances and a wilful disregard for their welfare by both the Ministry of Health and county governments. This industrial action, legally sanctioned and supported by court orders, threatens to cripple essential services across the country, from maternal care to emergency response.
The core of the dispute lies in the protracted delay surrounding the signing and full implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) agreed upon in August 2025. This, coupled with a seemingly perpetual stall on backdated promotions and the indefinite hold on absorbing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Fund staff into permanent positions, has pushed clinical officers to their breaking point. George Gibore, KUCO General Secretary and CEO, minced no words, accusing authorities of “dragging their feet” and exhibiting a shocking lack of goodwill, despite the union exhausting all avenues for negotiation.
The ramifications of this strike are stark and immediate. Clinical officers provide an astonishing 99% of outpatient services in Kenya, making them indispensable to the functioning of Levels 2 to 5 public hospitals. The withdrawal of their labour will undoubtedly lead to severe disruptions in maternal healthcare, emergency services, routine consultations, and critical disease surveillance programmes. Even clinical interns are joining the picket lines, compounding the crisis by halting vital training and continuous medical education. While the National Treasury has reportedly made some concessions, KUCO insists that only a fraction of their extensive 19-point memorandum has been addressed, leaving a chasm of unresolved issues. The nation now holds its breath, hoping for a swift resolution before the healthcare crisis deepens further.
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