- KUCO SG George Gibore said the strike by clinicians was properly sanctioned as required by law hence is valid, proper, lawful and has not been declared otherwise.
- He said several threats aiming to intimidate and frustrate the strike had been reported, adding that participating in a strike is a right enshrined in the Constitution.
Image: FILE
Clinicians have reaffirmed that their strike which began on Monday is still on despite what they termed as intimidation and threats.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) however confirmed that negotiations with the Ministry of Health had resumed.
They however said counties are yet to come to the negotiating table despite several orders by the courts to have the parties resolve the matters raised.
“We have since resumed negotiations with the Ministry of Health and we parties have agreed on the negotiations’ roadmap geared towards a lasting resolution of this matter,” KUCO SG George Gibore said.
Gibore said the strike by clinicians was properly sanctioned as required by law hence is valid, proper, lawful and has not been declared otherwise.
He said several threats aiming to intimidate and frustrate the strike had been reported, adding that participating in a strike is a right enshrined in the Constitution.
"This is irresponsible and goes to the core of Article 41 of the constitution on the right of every worker to go on strike and the right of every member of a registered trade union to participate in the activities and programmes of that trade union including participating in a strike," he said.
“We wish to inform all our members and the general public that the strike is still on and will continue until such a time when the employer will honour all the grievances contained in the strike notice duly served upon them.”
Gibore said that as a union, they remain committed to the urgent resolution of the strike by all means available including but not limited to conciliations.
"It is sad and most unfortunate to note that the county governments being represented in the negotiations by the Council of Governors continue to ignore the call to resume negotiations with the union," he said.
He reiterated the union's focus on ensuring that the welfare, rights and safety of clinical officers are upheld at all times.
Clinicians on Monday downed their tools after the lapse of their seven-day notice.
KUCO chairperson Peterson Wachira on Sunday said the strike decision was necessitated by the failure of the two levels of government to heed their demands despite a strike notice.
They are demanding that the national and county governments issue confirmation letters on permanent and pensionable terms to UHC staff hired during the Covid-19 period.
They also want the national government and counties to recruit more than 20,000 unemployed and qualified clinical officers to cover the existing shortage.
The union also demands the government provide comprehensive medical cover for all actively serving clinical officers in the public sector so they can access services wherever they need them.