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Operations at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret are on the verge of grinding to a halt after more than 150 clinical officers at the facility joined their striking counterparts working in county government run public health facilities in the North Rift region.

 The clinical officers made good a threat to join colleagues in the strike by staying away from work stations until all their grievances are made by the national government.

Led by the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers MTRH chapter Secretary General Exaviour Wamalwa, they listed several demands they want the national government to fulfil before they return to work.

Key among the demands include confirmation of UHC staff hired during the Covid-19 period on permanent and pensionable terms and provision of comprehensive medical cover for clinical officers to enable them access service at the hospitals of their choice.

“We shall not resume work until the national government addresses all our grievances which are long overdue,” stated Wamalwa.

Peaceful protests

Wamalwa was speaking in Eldoret town during a peaceful protest of clinical officers drawn from the county and national government that was led by the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers ( KUCO ) national chairman Peterson Wachira.

The protesters who were holding placards and twigs marched towards Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii’s office to deliver their petition.

 Addressing the striking clinicians, outside the governor’s office, Wachira called on the regional and national government to employ 20,000 unemployed clinical officers to address the acute shortage of the staff in public hospitals across the country.

“It is unfortunate to note that the county and national governments have not seen the need to address the critical issues affecting the clinical officers.

 Wachira said there was no way the two levels of governments will achieve universal health coverage without the support of the clinical officers whom he said are key in implementation of the programme.

He also called out on various public service boards over their frequent threats and intimidation directed at clinical officers who are taking part in industrial action with the aim of forcing them to resume work.