HEALTH UNIONS ISSUE 21-DAY ULTIMATUM TO COUNTIES OVER UHC WORKERS

A coalition of health workers’ unions has issued a 21-day ultimatum to county governments, demanding the immediate absorption of all Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff into permanent and pensionable positions. In a joint statement released after a strategic meeting on September 8,2025,  the unions warned that failure to meet this demand by the end of September will trigger widespread disruption in the health sector.

“Healthcare workers cannot and will not continue to endure systemic injustice, impunity, and blatant constitutional violations by the Council of Governors and individual governors,” the statement read. “Unless swift corrective measures are taken, unrest in the health sector will escalate.”

The unions emphasized that transitioning UHC contract workers to permanent county government employment is long overdue, calling it an urgent national priority. The statement was signed by the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya Environment Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHU), Kenya National Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUNAD), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KNUPT), and the Kenya Health Professional Society (KHPS).

They condemned what they termed as exploitative and punitive contracts issued by counties, insisting that such agreements must be aligned with constitutional and statutory standards. The unions further demanded the immediate resumption of union dues deductions, as well as the conclusion of Recognition Agreements and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), especially in Kiambu, Kirinyaga, and Tharaka Nithi counties.

Rejecting attempts to decentralize CBA negotiations, they maintained that such agreements should be handled centrally in line with national labour standards. They also urged relevant agencies to ensure counties pay salaries promptly and remit all statutory deductions without delay.

In addition, the unions called on both the National Assembly and the Senate to investigate the mistreatment of healthcare workers by county administrations and enact legislative measures that guarantee lasting solutions.