JOINT PRESS STATEMENT BY HEALTH SECTOR UNIONS IN KENYA

Nairobi, Kenya.-19th August, 2025

We, the representatives of Kenya’s leading Health Sector Unions — including the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUN), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), Kenya Environmental health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU), Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUNAD), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologist (KNUPT) and Kenya Health Professionals Society (KHPS) — stand united in addressing pressing challenges facing our healthcare system and workforce. As frontline guardians of public health, we are compelled to speak out on issues that threaten the well-being of healthcare workers, patients, and the nation’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Our collective voice demands accountability, equity, and urgent reforms to safeguard the health of all Kenyans.

1. Delays in Absorption of UHC Staff

The prolonged delay in absorbing over 8,000 UHC contract staff into permanent and pensionable (PNP) terms even after conducting a verification process is a betrayal of the dedicated professionals who have been instrumental in rolling out Kenya’s UHC pilot and subsequent programs. Despite parliamentary allocation of KSh 6.2 billion for this purpose and resolutions from multi-stakeholder engagements, including the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, and unions, implementation has stalled since July 1, 2025. Verification exercises and payroll transfers to counties have been marred by bureaucratic hurdles, leading to ongoing uhc strikes that have disrupted services for months.

These delays have left thousands of health workers in limbo, facing financial insecurity, demotivation, and burnout. We condemn the government’s inaction, which risks collapsing essential services and undermining UHC gains. We call for immediate absorption of all eligible UHC staff under PNP terms, with backdated benefits, and an end to tactics that perpetuate precarious employment in a sector already strained by shortages.

• Salary Delays and Their Impact on Civil Servants

Salary delays for civil servants, including health workers, have become alarmingly recurrent, exacerbated by fiscal constraints, payroll system upgrades, and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) freeze on reviews for the 2024/2025 financial year. In recent months, payments have been postponed due to debt servicing pressures and economic challenges, forcing families to endure hardship amid rising living costs.

These delays erode morale, compromise service delivery, and heighten vulnerability to corruption and strikes. Health workers, already overburdened, cannot effectively care for patients while grappling with unpaid bills and uncertainty. The ripple effects extend to patient care, with demotivated staff leading to longer wait times and reduced quality. We urge the National Treasury and relevant ministries to prioritize timely salary disbursements, implement pending collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and address root causes like debt burdens to restore dignity to public servants.

• Quality of Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill 2025

We welcome the intent behind the Quality of Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill 2025, which seeks to establish an independent authority for regulating facilities, enforcing standards, and protecting patient rights through mechanisms like a unified tribunal and penalties for negligence. Approved by Cabinet and undergoing public participation, this Bill could address longstanding issues such as unsafe practices, fraud, and regulatory gaps that have eroded public trust.

However, we express concerns over potential duplication with existing bodies, centralization of power, and punitive measures that may overburden under-resourced facilities and professionals without tackling systemic underfunding. Staff shortages, inadequate equipment, and chronic underinvestment—evident in only 5.8% of facilities having accident and emergency units—must be prioritized alongside regulation. We advocate for amendments that emphasize investment in workforce training, infrastructure, and equitable implementation to ensure the Bill truly enhances safety without stifling service delivery.

• Social Health Authority (SHA) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

The rollout of SHA under the Taifa Care initiative marks a pivotal step toward UHC, with over 24 million registrations and biometric verification in higher-level hospitals to curb fraud. We applaud actions like suspending 40 facilities for defrauding SHA and integrating services into community health, maternal care, and digital platforms. These reforms promise dignity, accessibility, and financial protection for all Kenyans, aligning with our vision of a healthier nation.

Yet, challenges persist: co-charging practices, ghost worker issues, and integration gaps hinder equitable access. Private sector dominance in 56% of services drives up costs, diverting patients from public facilities due to perceived quality issues. We demand stricter enforcement against fraud, tax relief on health technologies for chronic illnesses, and devolution reforms to strengthen county-level services. SHA must evolve into a truly inclusive system, with unions involved in governance to ensure worker rights and patient-centered outcomes. SHA management must also come up with mechanisms in how to purchase preventive health services in Kenya, setting up of food and water quality testing laboratories must be purchased by SHA among other preventive health services.

In conclusion, Kenya’s health sector stands at a crossroads. We call upon the government, including the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, and Parliament, to engage in immediate dialogue with unions to resolve these issues. Delays in staff absorption and salaries must end; the Patient Safety Bill requires balanced amendments; and SHA/UHC reforms need robust support to deliver on their promise. Failure to act risks further strikes, service disruptions, and loss of public confidence. Together, we can build a resilient, equitable healthcare system for all Kenyans.

DEMANDS

1. Absorption of UHC staff by 1st September 2025 backdated to 1st July 2025 failure to which we shall resume demonstrations.
2. Payment of salaries and third-party deductions by 5th of every month failure to which our members shall start salary parades without further notice.
3. Enhancement of Quality Assurance Mechanism by introducing two-tier accreditation system.