Three trade unions have issued a strike notice compounding government woes within the healthcare sector.
Public Health Officers, Specialists, Technicians, Pharmaceutical Technologists, and Nutritionists/Dieticians unions in a statement to the press jointly expressed their discontent with the Ministry of Health and County Governments’ handling of their grievances.
The unions including Kenyan National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologist Officers (KNUPT), Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU), and the General Secretary of the Kenya National Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUNAD) have collectively expressed their dissatisfaction threatening to down their tools.
According to the unions, their disappointment stems from the failure of the Health Ministry headed by Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha to recognize the despite meeting all requirements for official recognition, as stipulated by the Labour Relations Act.
They emphasize that this lack of recognition violates both constitutional rights and labor laws.
“The Constitution of Kenya under Article 41 on fair labor practices recognizes existence of Labour Rights while Section 48 of Labour Relations Act No 14 of 2007 as read together with Section 54 establishes membership and recognition of a trade union by the Employer,” read the strike notice in part.
The statement was jointly signed by Brown Ashira, General Secretary & CEO, (KEHPHPU), Elias Irura General Secretary (KNUPT) and Michael Ouma Odero, General Secretary (KUNAD).
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Areas of Concern
Furthermore, the unions highlighted issues concerning handling interns within the healthcare system.
They cite the Employment Policy Department Working Paper No. 240 of 2018 and the Internship Policy for Health Care Professionals of February 2020, which outline the entitlement of interns to work benefits and define internships as mandatory experiential learning.
A major point of contention raised by the unions is the alleged discrimination in the posting and payment of interns, particularly Public Health Officers Interns, Pharmaceutical Technologists Interns, and Nutritionists Interns.
According to the unions, the interns are being intentionally excluded from rightful opportunities and fair compensation.
Additionally, the unions accuse the Ministry of Health and Council of Governors for failing to absorb contracted staff under proper terms of employment, despite their long tenure and essential roles in initiatives such as Universal Health Coverage (UHC), CHERP, and COVID-19 response efforts.
Unions Issue 7 Day Demand Notice
In response to these grievances, the unions have issued a seven-day demand notice, calling for immediate action from the Ministry of Health and County Governments.
They demand recognition of the listed unions, fair treatment of interns, and the absorption of contracted staff into permanent and pensionable positions.
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Failure to address these demands within the stipulated timeframe, the unions warn, will result in individual calls for industrial action without further reference to the authorities.
“Take note, that if these demands will not be honored by your offices within Seven (7) days, effective from the date of service of this demand notice the three listed unions will individually institute calls for industrial action without any further reference to you,” reads the strike notice in conclusion.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha had earlier described discussions with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) as productive amidst the ongoing strike by healthcare workers.
Negotiations to prevent the strike have been in progress ever since a court in Nairobi mandated the CS and the unions representing healthcare workers to convene and address the concerns raised by doctors.
