Clinical officers across Kenya have officially begun a nationwide strike after the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) confirmed that the industrial action took effect at midnight on Monday, July 20, 2026.

In an official communiqué dated Sunday, July 19, 2026, KUCO Secretary-General and CEO George M. Gibore announced that the strike would proceed across all 47 counties after the Ministry of Health and county governments allegedly failed to address the union’s grievances despite being issued with both a 21-day demand notice and a subsequent 14-day strike notice.

According to the union, the government did not provide a meaningful response to the issues raised, leaving members with no option but to withdraw their labour.

“The Ministry of Health and the forty-seven county governments ignored our twenty-one-day demand notice and have equally failed to respond meaningfully to the subsequent fourteen-day strike notice. Our grievances, therefore, remain unresolved,” part of the statement reads.

Message to COs

KUCO directed all clinical officers to remain united, disciplined and fully prepared as the nationwide strike takes effect. Branch officials were also instructed to mobilise members and maintain close consultations with the union’s national office to ensure the industrial action is implemented uniformly across the country.

The union further warned members against participating in separate county-level meetings convened by county labour officers without written authorisation from the secretary-general. It maintained that the issues contained in the strike notice are national in nature and should only be negotiated centrally.

“No branch official or member is authorised to negotiate, vary, compromise, suspend or withdraw any matter contained in the national strike notice,” the communiqué stated.

Branch resolutions

KUCO argued that attempts to fragment the negotiations into county-level discussions would only delay resolution of the dispute and weaken the union’s collective bargaining efforts.

The strike is expected to disrupt the provision of healthcare services in public hospitals and health facilities across the country as thousands of clinical officers stay away from work pending the resolution of their grievances with both the national and county governments.

The union concluded by reaffirming that the strike notice remains in full force and effect until the outstanding issues are addressed, urging members to remain steadfast throughout the industrial action.