Nairobi clinical officers threaten strike if promotion demands go unmet
By William Muthama, July 14, 2025Clinical officers in Nairobi have issued a stern warning to the county government, announcing they will begin a fresh wave of demonstrations from Wednesday, July 16, 2025, unless long-standing demands around promotions, deployments, and career guidelines are met.
Addressing the media on Monday, July 14, 2025, at their Nairobi office, officials from the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) said the county’s failure to resolve the ongoing health workers’ strike, now in its 83rd day, has crippled services in major city facilities, putting lives at risk.
Led by KUCO Chairman Peterson Wachira, alongside General Secretary George Gibore, Nairobi Branch Chairman Stephen Muthama, Deputy Chairman Joab Ogweno, and member Silas Wandera, the union leaders accused the Nairobi County Government of showing blatant disregard for the city’s healthcare crisis.
“It’s disappointing that even after numerous engagements, the county has failed to act,” Wachira said.
“We are demanding the immediate deployment of five officers who already have appointment letters, full implementation of our career progression guidelines, and the promotion of staff who’ve stagnated in the same job group for years.”
Ultimatum
The Nairobi Branch Chairman added that county officials had earlier promised to partner with healthcare workers but have since abandoned their commitments.
“We expected the best of you because you called us to the table and promised to address these issues,” Muthama said, calling out Governor Johnson Sakaja to urgently intervene.
Wachira further warned that if the county fails to respond by Wednesday, July 16, 2025, clinical officers will escalate their protests with what he termed “data demonstrations” the following week, symbolic of their organised approach to demanding rights.
Many facilities across Nairobi remain non-functional or are operating at minimum capacity. The union blames the “carefree” attitude of the county government for prolonging the crisis, adding that the public should join the demonstrations to demand better healthcare.
“The people of Nairobi deserve access to proper healthcare,” said Silas Wandera. “If nothing is done, we will not back down.”
The county government is yet to issue a formal response.