Wamuzi News Ke
Kenya’s clinical officers have sounded the alarm, accusing the Ministry of Health, the Social Health Authority (SHA), and county governments of outright discrimination, contract betrayal, and exclusion from crucial national health plans!
“We’re being sidelined and silenced!” — This is the desperate cry now echoing from the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), who have filed an explosive petition through Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei. The petition accuses top health institutions of pushing clinical officers to the margins of policy-making, despite their vital role in delivering care.
Top KUCO officials, General Secretary George Gibore and Chairman Peterson Wachira, claim the Ministry and SHA have completely ignored a signed return-to-work agreement, stalled approved career structures, and delayed internship placements, throwing the healthcare system into disarray.
“It’s a targeted and deliberate exclusion!” says the union — arguing that clinical officers are being locked out of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programs, and their rights to pre-authorize patient care have been revoked without warning. This decision has reportedly led to massive treatment delays and left thousands of patients digging deep into their pockets.
KUCO is demanding the Senate launch an urgent investigation and hold the Health Ministry accountable. Among their pleas:
- Reinstatement of clinical officers’ authority in SHA
- Full enforcement of the return-to-work deal
- Standardized internship payments
- Permanent contracts for UHC staff
But that’s not all.
The union further reveals that attempts to meet with the Health CS and PS have been flat-out ignored — or delegated to personal assistants. This stands in sharp contrast to how other health unions are treated, highlighting what they call a “clear double standard.”
With over 30,000 licensed clinical officers ready to serve, the union says they’re being systematically sidelined — and it’s Kenyan patients who are paying the ultimate price.
“This isn’t just a workplace dispute — this is a national health emergency,” the union warns. “Unless the Senate intervenes, Kenya’s healthcare system could spiral into crisis.”
