The white coats are returning to the wards. After 36 days of paralysis that left public hospitals resembling ghost towns, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has officially called off its nationwide strike following a breakthrough deal with the government.

The stalemate, which began in late December 2025, had brought the healthcare system to its knees. Patients were turned away, surgeries were cancelled, and the burden on private facilities became unbearable. The resolution came after a marathon negotiation session involving the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, and union leadership, ending in a Return-to-Work Formula signed in the wee hours of the morning.

The Deal on the Table

KUCO Chairperson Peterson Wachira announced the suspension of hostilities, citing the government’s commitment to address key grievances. Central to the agreement is the confirmation of clinical officers on permanent and pensionable terms—a sticking point that had fueled the unrest. The state has also agreed to a framework for comprehensive medical cover and the immediate payment of salary arrears.

"We have not won everything, but we have secured the future of our profession," Wachira told a cheering crowd of medics at Uhuru Park. "We return to work not because we are satisfied, but because we care for the Wanjiku who has suffered enough. But let this be a warning: if they renege, we will be back."

• The Cost of Delay: The 36-day strike has had a devastating impact. Reports from across the counties indicate a spike in preventable deaths and a backlog of outpatient cases that will take months to clear. The trust between the public and the public health sector has been severely eroded.
• Government Assurance: Health CS Susan Nakhumicha assured the medics that the Treasury has released the necessary funds to implement the deal. "We value our healthcare workers. The delays were administrative, not malicious," she stated, a comment that was met with skepticism by many observers.

Healing the System

As clinical officers don their stethoscopes once more, the real work begins. The healthcare system is fragile, underfunded, and overworked. This strike was a symptom of a deeper malaise that requires structural surgery, not just a bandage. For now, the patients waiting on the benches breathe a sigh of relief, but the scars of the last month will remain.