The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) on Monday, June 10, 2024, denied claims made by Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha on Sunday, June 9, 2024, during an interview with a local TV station.
KUCO says that they have not met with the Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki in the past one month contrary to CS Nakhumicha’s claims.
The union went further to accuse the team appointed by the health PS for refusing to sit and negotiate with them a return to work agreement as directed by the courts.
“@Nakhumicha_S unless you are being misadvised, we have not met Ps @muthonikenya in the past one month and the team she appointed refuses to sit and negotiate a return to work agreement as directed by courts. Clinical Officers in the National government are over 500 in number,” KUCO said.
Calling for CS Nakhumicha’s intervention, KUCO stated that the County Governors are not Clinical officers’ primary employers and that the officers work across the two levels of government.
“It is also not true that @KenyaGovernors are the primary employers, Clinical Officers work across the two levels of government. You are the authority that is expected to intervene & expedite when there arises a stalemate. What you are doing is akin to the proverbial ostrich story,” KUCO stated.
CS Nakhumicha’s claims
During an interview with local media, Nakhumicha on Sunday, June 9, 2024, while addressing the issue of the Clinical officers’ strike stated that the KUCO met with the Health PS last week
“I know and am aware the clinical officer last week met with the health principal secretary and is only when the PS has escalated to my level then am able to handle it.”CS Nakhumicha said.
Adding that the majority of the clinical officers work under county government since health is devolved.
“I know there are talks that we have to take care of the clinical officers who are at the national level and are less than 200 working in the national referral hospitals because health is a devolved, majority of these clinical officers work within the counties,” CS said.
“I have personally talked to their chair and have said this discussion first have with the council of governors”.
Clinical officers strike
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) strike started on May 15, 2024.
The ongoing nationwide strike by the clinical officers has affected the health delivery in level 4,3 hospitals as well as dispensaries and health centres across the entire country.
The union leaders blame the government for what they say is a non-commitment of finding a solution to the strike.
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