Clinicians have threatened to hold protests in nine counties that are yet to submit returns on UHC staff to the Ministry of Health.
In a resolution during the Annual delegates conference held in Nairobi on Friday, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers national Chairman Peterson Wachira said the delay in making returns has led to a delay in payment of the affected clinicians.
They have listed Migori, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Wajir, Siaya, Busia, Kajiado, Nairobi and Uasin Gishu as the affected counties.
This comes barely two days after Health CS Susan Nakhumicha hit out at healthcare workers who were pointing accusing fingers at her office for delays in their payments.
"We have around nine counties that have either not renewed the contracts or have not been able to submit the returns so that they can be paid from the Ministry of Health,” Wachira said.
“Our members in these counties are really undergoing suffering and we have decided that we are going to select a day when we are going to lead processions in these counties so that we can ensure they do whatever they are supposed to do,” he added.
The CS on Wednesday said the counties are yet to submit their returns to the headquarters as had been requested.
Nakhumicha said there was a need to ascertain the exact number of those who are still working at the counties as some might have left for greener pastures.
The lot was hired on a three-year contract to boost the response to the pandemic as well as the smooth implementation of UHC.
The counties were supposed to make returns that would explain to the ministry how many staff are still working for them under the UHC programme.
“We needed each county to do returns to explain how many people are still working in the counties. Before they point fingers at Afya House first inquire within your counties if they submitted their name in the returns or not,” she said.
Nine health workers’ unions petitioned the Senate to inquire and unlock the standoff.
In the petition, the unions said the health workers were hired in April 2020 and tied down to a three-year contract.
They were reportedly paid half what their colleagues under permanent and pensionable terms take home.
