Kisumu: Kericho County has moved to resolve long-standing concerns affecting healthcare workers, with the County government pledging to fast-track promotions for eligible clinical officers, implement their career guidelines, and facilitate the transition of qualified health workers to permanent and pensionable terms. Governor Dr. Eric Mutai announced these measures following a successful consultative meeting with officials of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), held against the backdrop of a nationwide industrial action by clinical officers that began on July 20 and disrupted healthcare services in different parts of the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Mutai addressed the media at the Kericho County Headquarters after the meeting, noting that the County had made significant progress in addressing concerns raised by clinical officers, with dialogue emerging as the preferred avenue for resolving the dispute. Under the agreement reached, the County Public Service Board is expected to begin issuing promotion letters to eligible clinical officers through competitive promotion from August 7, 2026, while the County will implement the career guidelines approved by the Public Service Commission in 2024.
The county has also signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with clinical officers, making Kericho among the first 20 counties to conclude the agreement and paving the way for improvements in workers’ welfare, promotions, and career progression. KUCO General Secretary, George M. Gibore, welcomed the progress, saying the Union had responded to an invitation from the Governor and held discussions with the County government that resulted in substantial progress on issues raised by clinical officers.
Gibore noted that the Union would present the proposals reached during the meeting to its members and relevant structures for consideration, before formally signing a return-to-work formula and suspending the industrial action. The Union official explained that the strike was national in character and therefore required consultations with the Union’s established structures before a formal return-to-work agreement could be concluded.
The consultative meeting came amid a nationwide strike by clinical officers over grievances, including career progression, promotions, implementation of collective bargaining agreements, remuneration, and employment security. On job security, Dr. Mutai announced that the County had agreed to facilitate the transition of eligible Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers to permanent and pensionable terms, with the County Public Service Board expected to begin issuing confirmation letters as consultations with the National government through the Ministry of Health continue.
According to KUCO, the workers’ pay slips were already reflecting permanent and pensionable status following the availability of funds, but they were awaiting formal confirmation letters. However, the issue of service gratuity for UHC workers remains unresolved and will require further engagement between the County and National governments.
The discussions with clinical officers are part of wider efforts to address labor concerns affecting other health cadres, including pharmaceutical staff, laboratory technologists, and public health officers. Dr. Mutai said normal operations had resumed in County health facilities following the return of medical doctors and consultants after a return-to-work agreement was signed the previous week.
The County is also taking measures to improve the availability of medicines through the decentralization of funds for drug procurement. Health facilities are receiving funds directly through the Social Health Authority and have been directed to allocate 40 percent towards medicines, with the remainder supporting other essential services.
Kericho is also set to recruit about 14 medical consultants and additional healthcare workers to address staffing gaps and strengthen specialized services. The County is further engaging nurses following a nationwide strike notice, with Dr. Mutai expressing optimism that dialogue will help resolve outstanding concerns and prevent disruption of healthcare services.
The County government has assured residents that it will continue prioritizing the welfare of healthcare workers, improving medicine supplies, strengthening staffing, and engaging unions to address outstanding concerns, as part of efforts to build a stable and responsive health system that provides timely and reliable medical services.
