Clinical Officers issue fresh 21-day strike notice

Clinical officers across Kenya have issued a 21-day strike notice after the national and county governments failed to implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2024.

Speaking at a Special Delegates Conference in Machakos on Friday, leaders of the Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) said all terms of the CBA had been agreed and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission had confirmed that funds were available.

However, the document still awaits the signature of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale more than a year after the Union ended a 100-day strike.

“It is never our wish to go on strike,” said KUCO National Chairman Peterson Wachira.

“It is now clear that CS Duale, the Council of Governors and the governors themselves want to force another strike.”

Mr Wachira urged the government to act within the 21-day notice period to avert industrial action.

“If nothing happens in the next 21 days, all clinical officers in the 47 counties and in referral hospitals will down tools because our rights have been violated,” he warned.

He added that the strike would begin on December 23, 2025, if the government fails to comply.

KUCO Secretary-General George Gibore said the unresolved issues include non-compliance with a court order, delayed promotions and redesignation of clinical officers, and failure to absorb officers into permanent and pensionable terms.

Deputy Chairperson Boniface Mitambo noted that, under the CBA, promotions and redesignation should have been completed by September 1, 2024.

He praised Machakos County Government for implementing 80 percent of the agreement, having promoted 201 out of 212 clinical officers.

The union represents more than 33,000 clinical officers nationwide.

Officials confirmed that the formal strike notice will be served on Monday.