Unions representing health workers have declared war on the government over funding cuts to oversight councils within the Ministry of Health.

Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (Kuco), Kenya National Union of Nurses and Kenya Health Professionals Society (KHPS) have given the government two weeks to drop the move failure to which they will declare an industrial action.

Chairman of Health Caucus Kenya Peterson Wachira said the directive will delay push by patients for justice whenever a health provider is accused of malpractice.

“The government is trying something that will not work at all. If it will cost us going to the streets, we will do it without fear.

“We can’t allow a few cartels domiciled at the Ministry of Health to bring policies which we know can’t work,” said Wachira.

The unions warned that the move would compromise service delivery as scrapping the bodies would end the professional oversight role they play.
KHPS chairman Mohamed Duba warned the government against interfering with the operations of the health sector.

“Unions should be left to operate freely, the government is simply trying to court trouble. A time like now when Kenyans are really suffering from the high economic times, we should not allow there to be health paralysis,” he said.

The councils affected include the Nurses’ Council, Clinical Officers Council, and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, which regulates healthcare professionals and facilities.

President William Ruto’s Cabinet proposed declassification of these councils, effectively cutting off their access to Exchequer funding. Currently classified as state corporations, the councils rely on government support for their operations.

Kuco Secretary General George Gibore criticised the decision to merge the Clinical Officers Council established by an Act of Parliament with the doctor’s council.

Clinical Officers Council regulates clinical officers’ training and practice.