Clinical officers yesterday poured onto the streets to push for better terms, petitioning Parliament to prevail upon the government to address the issues they have been raising.

Under their umbrella body, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), the medics have petitioned the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to quickly address “the pressing issues in the healthcare sector.”

“Failing to do so,” the clinical officers cautioned, will undermine their well-being, and will largely jeopardise the quality of healthcare services delivery in the country.

The clinical officers want the SRC among other issues in dispute to urgently address the delayed implementation of enhanced risk allowance.

New pay deal

The other issues the clinical officers want addressed by the SRC include calling on the Commission to stop supporting the Ministry of Health’s move to reduce internship payment, to cooperate in the finalisation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)and to establish protective policies for the medics.

In Recognition that: as stipulated in Article 230 (4) of the Kenyan Constitution, 2010, the powers and functions of SRC are clearly defined, including setting and regularly reviewing the remuneration and benefits of all state officers, as well as advising the national and county governments.

“Given this mandate, we bring forth critical concerns regarding unresolved issues within the healthcare sector and call upon the SRC to fulfil its duties in addressing these matters,” the union leadership led by its chairman Peterson Wachira and Secretary General George Gibore said yesterday.

Wachira highlighted the delayed implementation of the enhanced risk allowance since January 2021 by the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors that has been attributed to the SRC failure to provide a concurrence advisory.