Health unions have turned their attention to county governments over the delayed confirmation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers to permanent and pensionable terms, even as nurses in Homa Bay County joined a nationwide strike over unresolved employment grievances.
The unions welcomed President William Ruto and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s support for the confirmation of UHC workers, but accused governors of failing to implement the directive despite funds having been allocated for the exercise.
According to the unions, thousands of UHC workers remain in limbo as counties delay placing them on their payrolls and issuing permanent and pensionable appointment letters.
They argue that the continued delays have left health workers uncertain about their employment status despite agreements reached with the government.
The unions have vowed to sustain protests until county governments fully implement the directive and honour commitments made to health workers.
Their demands come amid mounting pressure on counties as nurses in several parts of the country down tools over a separate set of employment grievances.
In Homa Bay, nurses joined their colleagues in other counties in the nationwide strike, demanding implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement, recruitment of additional nurses and implementation of career progression guidelines, among other issues.
Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives officials in the county said they would remain part of the industrial action until their concerns are addressed.
Homa Bay branch Executive Secretary Emmadick Otieno said nurses would not resume duty before the county government responds to their grievances.
“We will only go back to work once our grievances are addressed,” Otieno said.
The union has also indicated that nurses in Homa Bay could issue a separate strike notice after the nationwide industrial action ends should outstanding county-specific issues remain unresolved.
At the centre of the dispute are long-running concerns over staffing shortages, career progression, implementation of negotiated labour agreements and employment terms for health workers.
The unions maintain that commitments already made to workers should be implemented without further delays, warning that industrial action will continue to disrupt services unless county governments engage them and resolve the outstanding grievances.
Follow our social media pages for breaking news updates, in-depth stories and videos.
news@nairobilens.ke
