Doctors issue strike notice over move by government to extend UHC contracts
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers have rejected the Council of Governors’ resolution to extend the contracts of close to 9000 medics employed under the Universal Health Coverage programme for another three years.
The medical practitioners led by KUCO National Chairperson Peterson Wachira have threatened to soon down their tools in solidarity with their colleagues should both National and County governments fail to implement the previous agreement.
“We reject the resolution to extend the contracts extension of UHC workers,” said Wachira.
They held a joint health unions press briefing to address the State of issues in the Health Sector UHC staff, Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) overreach and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) conclusion which saw COG led by chairperson governor Ann Waiguru resolve to extend the clinicians contractual services for three more years.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers General Secretary Dr. George Gibore Maroa threatened to lead his members for demonstrations should the meetings with Parliament and health cabinet secretaries’ next week bear no fruits.
The medical practitioners castigated the government move referring to it as prejudicial and discriminatory towards its members calling on the COG to hire and enlist them on permanent and pensionable terms.
Gibore termed the move as illegal and irregular.
“We condemn the move by the COG as informed by governor Waiguru to extend contracts as prejudicial and discriminatory… Health workers are children of a lesser God,” claimed Gibore.
