A group of university student leaders and public health students has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to resolve the ongoing public health workers’ strike or face nationwide demonstrations from Wednesday, October 21.
Speaking at Kenyatta University, the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHUPU) leaders warned that the prolonged strike, which has been going on for 90 days as of October 19, could have much greater devastating impacts on the country.
“We are issuing a 48-hour notice to the government: you either end the strike, or we mobilise nationwide for demonstration this coming Wednesday,” stated one of the leaders.
They warned that the prolonged strike could further undermine Kenya’s efforts to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus amid growing public health concerns.
Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHUPU) leaders at Kenyatta University.
Photo
KEHPHUPU
Additionally, they also called on President William Ruto to intervene and end the 90-day industrial action, which has disrupted healthcare services across the country.
They also called on Parliament to investigate the matter and do proper oversight to determine why the country’s health sector is always lagging behind.
“We are calling for Mr. President to intervene. For Parliament, do your work of oversight. We want you to oversee this allocation of the amount. Why was the public health left behind?” added another leader.
The 90-day strike is a result of demands like permanent and pensionable employment for workers serving under short-term Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Fund contracts.
The union is also protesting low risk allowances, with officers receiving between Ksh2,000 and Ksh3,000 monthly, compared with higher allowances for nurses and doctors despite hazardous working conditions.
Kenya has approximately 4,200 public health officers serving a population approaching 50 million, raising concerns about staffing shortages, impending retirements and inadequate recruitment to strengthen disease surveillance.
The union further accuses national and county governments of failing to implement signed collective bargaining agreements, provide comprehensive medical cover and adequately fund preventive healthcare, prolonging the industrial dispute.
To address the perpetual health workers strikes in the country, President William Ruto proposed establishing dedicated committees to negotiate health workers’ collective bargaining agreements and resolve labour disputes without disruptive industrial action.
Speaking during the Kenya Health Summit town hall on August 19, he urged unions to prioritise Kenyans’ welfare over political or organisational interests, calling for reasonable engagement.
The President also directed government officials to resolve outstanding health workers’ salary arrears within a week and strengthen coordination with county governments to address payment delays.
President William Ruto receiving updates on the plans to combat child mortality rates using an illustration during the Kenya Health Summit on August 18.
PCS