Clinicians issue 7-day strike notice over stalled deal in Machakos

Clinicians in Machakos County have issued a seven-day strike notice following the collapse of talks with the county government over a delayed work agreement.
Led by Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) National Chairperson Peterson Wachira, the medics accused county officials of failing to honour a court-ordered settlement that included promotions and salary reviews.
Speaking on Friday, July 4, 2025, at Machakos Level 5 Hospital, Wachira said clinicians had waited for over three hours for a scheduled signing ceremony, only for no county official to show up.
“We are here to implement a court order. Unfortunately, we have been kept waiting since 2 pm, and no one showed up. This was supposed to be a signing ceremony, yet the county failed to turn up,” Wachira said.
He added that the county had previously agreed to implement promotions and salary increments by May 2025, following a court directive, but nothing has materialised.
The union has now warned that all clinical officers will down their tools if the county does not sign the agreement within the stipulated timeframe.
KUCO Secretary General George Gibore said the impasse has affected over 300 clinicians who have waited more than seven months for action.
“We have resolved to issue a seven-day notice starting tomorrow. If nothing is done within that period, we will withdraw our services. We have honoured our end of the bargain, but the county has failed to do the same,” said Gibore.
He noted that funding had already been allocated in the previous budget cycle and accused the county of ignoring clinicians’ demands despite legal backing.
Delayed promotions
KUCO Deputy Chairperson Boniface Mitambo also faulted the county for failing to implement delayed promotions and for disregarding an updated career progression framework approved by the national government.
“Every time we agree on a timeline, the county postpones. This shows a clear lack of goodwill and a refusal to honour the court order,” Mitambo said.

Ndeti’s threat to doctors
On December 4, 2024, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti threatened to sack striking doctors as healthcare services remain paralysed in the county for close to a week.
Ndeti warned that she would sack all the healthcare providers who failed to resume work immediately as earlier ordered by a Machakos court.
She said her administration had fulfilled all the doctors’ demands, including premium medical insurance coverage and effecting promotions of numerous medical staff, but the doctors still insisted on proceeding with a strike in solidarity with other medical practitioners across the country.
The Machakos County CEO directed the chief officer for medical services, Justus Kasivu, to crack the whip on medical officers who abscond from duty.