Public Health union issue strike ultimatum over interns’ exploitation
Public health officers have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to improve terms of service for interns, warning of imminent industrial action if long-standing grievances are not addressed.
The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU) accused the government of discrimination and unfair treatment of public health interns, particularly in hiring, remuneration and deployment, compared to interns in other medical fields.
Speaking at Kenyatta University during the launch of the First Caravan Mentorship Programme and the local KEHPHPU chapter, Union National General Secretary Brown Ashira said public health interns should be formally employed and paid on par with medical officers, pharmacists and clinical officers.
“If the government fails to act within 14 days, we will have no option but to down our tools,” Ashira warned.
He faulted the government’s budget priorities, noting that the health sector received Sh138 billion in the last national budget, compared to over Sh700 billion allocated to education. According to Ashira, the imbalance reflects a failure to prioritise preventive healthcare.
“This country does not take prevention seriously, yet 70 per cent of diseases treated in public hospitals are communicable and preventable. That is the work of public health officers,” he said, adding that learning cannot take place when citizens are sick.
Ashira also raised concern over Universal Health Coverage (UHC) officers who have remained on short-term contracts for up to six years, terming the practice illegal and exploitative. He demanded their immediate absorption into permanent and pensionable terms.
The union further criticised training institutions, accusing some universities and colleges of employing unqualified lecturers to train public health students.
KEHPHPU National Treasurer Mohamed Ali echoed the call for increased funding, urging the government to raise the public health allocation from the current Sh18 billion.
Student leaders backed the union’s demands, saying public health interns endure financial hardship during placements due to lack of pay, unlike their counterparts in medicine, pharmacy and clinical practice.
