Advertisement
Fresh headache to govt as clinical officers issue a 21-day strike notice
28th November, 2025 05:31 PM
Clinical officers across the country have issued a 21-day strike notice following the failure by the national and county governments to implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) reached in 2024.
Speaking on Friday, November 28, 2025, during a Special Delegates Conference held in Machakos, union leaders under the Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) said all issues in the CBA had been agreed upon and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had confirmed that the finances were available to implement the agreement, but the document was still awaiting the signature of the Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale a year after the union called off their strike.
Also watch: Kenya Union of Clinical Officers wants the SHA board disbanded
“It is never our wish to go on strike. It is now evident that CS Duale and the Council of Governors and the governors are the ones who are desirous of overseeing a strike,” Union National Chairman Peterson Wachira stated.
He added that there was still time for the government to act and avert the strike.
“In the next 21 days, if nothing happens, all clinical officers across the 47 counties and in all referral hospitals will be downing our tools because our rights have been contravened,” Wachira stated.
This comes months after KUCO officially ended its nationwide strike, which had disrupted healthcare services across the country.
The strike, which began on January 19, 2025, was triggered by unresolved issues and what the union described as a lack of goodwill from the government and state agencies.
MOH confirmed that an agreement had been reached, allowing clinical officers to return to work. The former Health Cabinet Secretary, Deborah Barasa, announced the resolution, emphasising the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by clinical officers while ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services.
Also watch: Marsabit health crisis deepens as clinical officers’ strike enters fourth week
“Following productive discussions, I am pleased to announce that the clinical officers’ strike has been called off,” Barasa stated.
The Demands
The agreement was signed at Afya House in the presence of Barasa, Council of Governors Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi, and other key stakeholders, with clinical officers being directed to resume duty within 24 hours.
KUCO Chairperson Peterson Wachira acknowledged the strike could have been avoided and confirmed that clinicians would now resume duty.
He stated that the Ministry had committed to immediately empanel clinical officers’ facilities and accelerate the implementation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
KUCO had initially invoked Article 41 of the Constitution, calling for a strike until all outstanding issues were resolved. Among their key demands was the immediate and unconditional recognition of clinical officers registered under the Clinical Officers Act No. 20 of 2017. The union also pushed for the reinstatement of pre-authorisation rights by the Social Health Authority (SHA) for clinical officers, including specialists.
KUCO demands included implementing a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) within 60 days, promoting and redesignating clinical officers, effective September 1, 2024, and providing comprehensive medical cover starting September 1, 2024.
