Healthcare workers across Kenya have issued a stern warning to the government, threatening to go on strike in two weeks if their demands for medical insurance coverage and unpaid salaries are not addressed. Already, healthcare workers in four counties—Nyamira, Marsabit, Meru, and Taita Taveta—are on strike, intensifying the pressure on both the national and county governments.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) announced that the strike is set to begin on September 19, citing the government's failure to implement a return-to-work agreement signed five months ago. Despite promises, many healthcare workers remain without essential medical insurance, exacerbating frustrations in a sector already stretched thin.
KMPDU has garnered support from other unions, including the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), and several others. Together, they are pushing for three key demands: comprehensive medical coverage, payment of unpaid salaries for June, July, and August, and the remittance of statutory deductions by county governments.
KMPDU Secretary-General Dr. Davji Atellah expressed deep frustration over the lack of progress. "Even after discussions and agreements, about 40 counties have failed to provide health workers with medical insurance, in violation of the Labor Relations Act and our collective bargaining agreement," Dr. Atellah said. "We cannot continue to work under these conditions."
The unions highlighted the unfairness of healthcare workers risking their lives to provide care while lacking basic protections such as medical insurance. Dr. Atellah emphasized that the strike would be nationwide if the government fails to act, stating, "We are not asking for anything extraordinary. Medical insurance is a basic right."
The delayed salaries have also severely impacted healthcare workers' livelihoods, with many struggling to afford transportation and facing evictions. The unions warned that the strike would affect healthcare services across 40 counties, threatening the country's already overburdened healthcare system.
Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa has expressed her willingness to engage in talks, but healthcare workers remain skeptical, citing a history of empty promises. The looming strike could pose a significant challenge to President William Ruto's administration and its goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage, especially with an ailing healthcare system.
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