The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has issued a 14-day strike notice, setting the stage for a nationwide walkout from midnight on July 20 if the national government and all 47 county governments fail to address a series of unresolved labour grievances affecting clinical officers.
The union says repeated efforts to engage the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors and county governments have failed to produce action, leaving key agreements unimplemented months after they were reached.
In a strike notice dated July 6 and signed by KUCO General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer George Gibore, the union said the planned industrial action is being taken under the Constitution, the Labour Relations Act, 2007, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the Return-to-Work Formula signed on January 28, 2026.
According to KUCO, the decision follows what it described as continued failure by the government and counties to honour commitments made after previous negotiations and to resolve concerns raised by clinical officers.
"This Notice arises from the persistent failure by the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors and the Forty-Seven (47) County Governments to resolve the disputes contained in the Joint Health Sector Unions' Demand Notice dated June 17,2026, despite the lapse of the timelines stipulated therein and numerous consultative engagements undertaken in good faith by the Union," the statement read.
Among the union's key demands is the immediate absorption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Fund health workers into permanent and pensionable employment. KUCO argues that keeping the workers on contracts has exposed thousands of them to job insecurity and unfair labour practices.
The union is also demanding payment of outstanding service gratuities owed to eligible UHC workers who have served on contract for more than six years, as well as Global Fund employees who have completed at least 24 months of service.
KUCO has also raised concerns over the grading of newly recruited clinical officers, saying some county governments are still hiring officers under Job Group H despite the Public Service Commission's Career Guidelines issued in May 2024, which abolished the grade after merging it with Job Group J.
The union says affected officers should be placed immediately in Job Group J, receive the correct salaries and be paid all salary arrears and benefits arising from the revised grading.
At the same time, KUCO is calling on county governments that have not signed the Collective Bargaining Agreement to do so without further delay and fully implement its provisions.
The union also wants all commitments contained in the January 2026 Return-to-Work Formula honoured, including payment of the agreed Health Risk Allowance.
"The continued refusal and/or failure to resolve the foregoing disputes constitutes a violation of the Labour Relations Act, 2007, the Employment Act, 2007, the binding Return-to-Work Formula, the duly negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the universally accepted principles of good-faith collective bargaining," KUCO said.
The union warned that failure to resolve the issues within the 14-day notice period would trigger a nationwide industrial action involving all clinical officers.
"ALL Clinical Officers shall commence a nationwide protected strike effective 12.00 Midnight on Monday, July 20,2026."
Even as it prepares for the planned strike, KUCO said it remains open to discussions and is ready to engage the government throughout the notice period in an effort to reach an amicable settlement.
The union said it is "available throughout the notice period for genuine negotiations aimed at amicably resolving the dispute."