By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, July 14, 2026 - Kenya is staring at a major healthcare crisis after health workers issued a seven-day strike notice, accusing county governments of frustrating negotiations and reneging on promises to improve the welfare of thousands of frontline medical staff.
The Health Union Caucus announced that members across the country will begin a nationwide strike from midnight on July 20 unless county governments address a raft of grievances, including delayed implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), job insecurity and failure to absorb thousands of health workers into permanent and pensionable terms.
The unions blamed the Council of Governors (CoG) for what they termed "persistent silence" despite formally presenting their demands on June 15.
"We have exhausted every available avenue for dialogue and engagement. Regrettably, the Council of Governors has failed to respond to the concerns raised by healthcare workers," the unions said in a joint statement.
At the centre of the dispute is the fate of thousands of workers employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme and the Global Fund, many of whom remain on short-term contracts years after they were recruited.
The unions want all eligible UHC and Global Fund staff immediately confirmed on permanent and pensionable terms and issued with appointment letters. They also want counties that have not signed the 2024-2029 CBA to do so without further delay.
The workers are further demanding full implementation of the Return-to-Work Formula signed on January 28, 2026, and the signing of recognition agreements by all county governments to facilitate structured labour relations.
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According to the unions, the continued delays have left many health workers without job security, adequate remuneration and medical insurance, undermining service delivery in public hospitals.
They warned that unless the issues are resolved before July 20, healthcare services in county hospitals will be severely disrupted as doctors, nurses, clinical officers, laboratory technologists, nutritionists and other health professionals stay away from work.
The Health Union Caucus maintained that it remains willing to return to the negotiating table but insisted that meaningful action, not promises, is needed to avert the industrial action.
The statement was signed by caucus chairperson Peterson M. Wachira and leaders of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHU), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dieticians (KUNAD), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KNUPT) and the National Union of Biomedical Engineers of Kenya (NUBEK).
If no agreement is reached, the strike is expected to pile pressure on both the Council of Governors and the national government, with millions of Kenyans who depend on public hospitals likely to bear the brunt of the disruption.