By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 18 December 2025 - Kenya’s healthcare system is facing renewed disruption as the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) announced plans to commence a nationwide strike on 23 December 2025.
The strike comes after prolonged delays by the Ministry of Health in signing a long-pending collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a move KUCO says is critical for improving working conditions and remuneration for its members.
Speaking at Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital, KUCO National Chairperson Peterson Wachira blamed Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale for inaction.
“We negotiated for the CBA in line with court directives, yet for three months, the ministry has failed to sign the agreement, denying our members the benefits they deserve,” Wachira said.
The CBA has a history of delays. In August 2024, the Employment and Labour Relations Court, under Judge Byram Ongaya, directed that the CBA be concluded by December 2023. That deadline was missed, triggering a strike that lasted over 100 days. After renewed negotiations, KUCO claims it concluded the agreement in August 2025, receiving approvals from both the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Treasury. However, CS Duale has not signed the agreement, prompting the union to set strike action as a last resort.
According to KUCO, the union’s demands include not only the immediate signing of the CBA but also backdated promotions and re-designations effective from September 1, 2025. Additionally, the union is calling for the implementation of the third and fourth cycles of salary increments, all measures that were approved but remain unexecuted.
“The pending CBA has all the necessary approvals. There is no reason for the CS to withhold his signature,” Wachira emphasised.
The union plans to file a formal strike notice in court by Tuesday next week, signaling an escalation in the ongoing labor dispute.
The looming strike highlights broader challenges in Kenya’s healthcare workforce management, especially in retaining and motivating clinical officers, who serve as frontline providers in hospitals and community health centres.
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Delays in implementing court-approved agreements risk not only labor unrest but also disruptions in critical health services, including maternal care, emergency services, and disease control programs.
KUCO also weighed in on international health collaborations, particularly the US-Kenya health deal aimed at boosting resources for disease control programmes.
Wachira expressed support for the agreement, noting that it could absorb approximately 28,000 health workers, many of whom are clinical officers previously laid off following the cessation of USAID support under the Trump administration.
Key programmes such as tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV interventions stand to benefit significantly from sustained funding.
“Ensuring the seamless supply of essential drugs and maintaining operational capacity in these programs is crucial for Kenya’s progress toward universal healthcare,” Wachira noted.
The current standoff underscores the delicate balance between labor rights and healthcare service delivery in Kenya. With thousands of clinical officers threatening to withdraw their services, hospitals may face staffing shortages just ahead of the holiday season—a period typically associated with increased patient load. The resolution of this dispute will be critical not only for healthcare workers’ welfare but also for the continuity of essential health services across the country.
As Kenya grapples with these labor challenges, the government faces growing pressure to honor court directives, implement the agreed-upon CBA, and ensure that frontline health workers are adequately supported. Failure to address these concerns promptly risks further strikes and potential setbacks in national health outcomes.
