On the radar: Health services disrupted as clinical officers launch nationwide strike
Healthcare workers in Kenya have launched a nationwide strike to demand permanent employment for Universal Health Coverage staff. Meanwhile, the government is investigating the disappearance of 28,000 tonnes of condemned sugar that was declared unfit for consumption.
Why it matters
The strike threatens to paralyze public health services across the country, while the sugar scandal raises significant public safety and corruption concerns.
Public health services across Kenya have been disrupted after thousands of healthcare workers downed their tools, accusing county governments of failing to employ 7,450 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers on permanent and pensionable terms despite funding and directives from the national government.
The nationwide strike, which began at midnight, has affected public health facilities in all 47 counties, with six medical unions also planning demonstrations outside Parliament and the Council of Governors (CoG) offices to pile pressure on county administrations.
The unions insist the strike will continue until county governments implement the agreed reforms and issue permanent and pensionable employment letters to all eligible UHC workers.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is set to appear before the National Assembly’s Trade Committee over condemned raw sugar, at Bunge Towers.
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