Kenya’s public healthcare system is facing a severe crisis as clinical officers prepare to launch a nationwide strike at midnight tonight, Monday, December 22, 2025. The industrial action, called by the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), threatens to halt services in thousands of public hospitals and clinics, leaving millions of Kenyans without access to essential medical care.

The strike's impact directly targets the average citizen who relies on public facilities for everything from prenatal care to emergency services. With clinical officers forming the backbone of primary healthcare in Levels 2 to 5 hospitals, their absence means many Kenyans will either face closed doors or be forced to seek expensive private alternatives.

Unmet Promises at Heart of Dispute

The union accuses both the Ministry of Health and county governments of failing to honour multiple agreements, some dating back to July 2024. KUCO issued a 21-day strike notice on December 2, 2025, warning of industrial action if their long-standing grievances were not addressed. The union insists that dialogue has failed, leaving them with no other option.

At the core of the dispute are several key demands that remain unresolved despite months of negotiations. In a statement, KUCO outlined the primary sticking points:

• Failure to Sign CBA: The Ministry of Health has allegedly refused to sign a concluded Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• Salary Implementation: County governments have reportedly failed to implement salary increments advised by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
• Staff Conversion: A failure to convert staff hired under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Fund programmes to permanent and pensionable terms.
• Disregarded Agreements: Contempt for a Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF) that was adopted by the court in July.

A Looming Public Health Emergency

This industrial action, which includes specialists and clinical interns, is expected to disrupt services across the country significantly. Past strikes have led to palpable silence in hospital corridors, with patients left unattended and scheduled procedures postponed indefinitely. The strike could cripple maternal care, emergency services, and crucial disease control programs, creating a ripple effect across the nation's health infrastructure.

As the midnight deadline approaches, the government has yet to issue a formal public response to the imminent strike. With both sides entrenched in their positions, millions of Kenyans are caught in the middle, anxiously waiting to see if the nation's primary healthcare providers will indeed walk off the job, leaving them vulnerable.