The Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa has announced that the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has called off its strike.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 12, CS Barasa said that KUCO called off the strike and directed members to resume duty within 24 hours following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the ministry and the Council of Governors (CoG).
This came following an earlier signing of the agreement at Afya House in a meeting led by the CS and CoG Chairman, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi.
“Today, I am pleased to announce that following productive discussions, the clinical officers’ strike has been called off following negotiations between the Ministry of Health and the leadership of our clinical workers’ caucus,” said CS Barasa.
“This marks a significant step in strengthening our healthcare system through dialogue and mutual understanding. The government remains committed to addressing the key concerns raised by our clinical officers while ensuring that the healthcare needs of all Kenyans are met without disruption.”
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CS Barasa speaks after clinical officers call off strike
Speaking after the agreement signing, Barasa acknowledged the critical role clinical officers play in delivering essential healthcare services.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to addressing their concerns while ensuring uninterrupted healthcare for all Kenyans.
“As we advance Universal Health Coverage under Taifa Care, constructive engagement remains key to strengthening our health system. We appreciate the dedication of clinical officers and urge them to resume duty as we work towards lasting solutions,” Dr. Barasa stated.
Governor Ahmed Abdullahi also reiterated the importance of collaboration in improving healthcare delivery.
On his part, KUCO Chairperson Peterson Wachira acknowledged the strike could have been avoided and confirmed that clinicians would now resume duty.
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Wachira stated that MoH had committed to immediately empanel clinical officers’ facilities and accelerate the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The prolonged strike had left many Kenyans without access to critical healthcare services, forcing them to seek costly private treatment.
Clinical officers down tools
KUCO initially invoked Article 41 of the Constitution and called for a strike which began on January 19, 2025.
The strike was triggered by the outstanding unresolved issues and what the union described as “a lack of goodwill from the government and state agencies”.
Among their key demands was the reinstatement of pre-authorization rights by the Social Health Authority (SHA) for clinical officers, including specialists.
The union also pushed for the immediate and unconditional recognition of clinical officers registered under the Clinical Officers Act No. 20 of 2017.
Other demands included converting all short-term contracts into permanent and pensionable terms for Universal Health Coverage clinical officers.
KUCO further raised concerns over what it termed as discriminatory practices by SHA, which allegedly excluded clinical officers from offering services.
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