Health Crisis Looms in Kilifi as Clinical Officers Threaten Midnight Strike

Kilifi, Kenya – June 4, 2025
Healthcare delivery in Kilifi County faces imminent disruption as clinical officers have issued a final warning: a full-scale strike will begin at midnight if the county government fails to fulfill its obligations under a previously signed return-to-work agreement.

Last-Ditch Efforts Collapse

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kilifi branch, sounded the alarm after the expiration of a seven-day strike notice issued on May 29. Union officials accuse the county administration of reneging on key elements of a 2024 agreement—a deal that was meant to restore industrial harmony after previous standoffs.

“We have exhausted all avenues for dialogue. The county’s continued indifference to our legitimate concerns has left us no choice,” said KUCO Kilifi Secretary General, in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday evening.

Among the unresolved issues are delayed promotions, unpaid allowances, and the failure to address poor working conditions that have reportedly affected staff morale across county-run health facilities.

Public Hospitals on the Brink

If the strike proceeds as scheduled, it will cripple essential health services, including outpatient care, emergency response, maternal health, and surgical procedures across all public hospitals in Kilifi. The looming paralysis has sparked widespread concern among residents, many of whom rely solely on public hospitals for medical treatment.

Health officials warn that the absence of clinical officers—who form the backbone of primary and secondary care delivery—could overwhelm the already stretched health system.

Appeal for Urgent Action

With hours remaining before the midnight deadline, the union has urged Kilifi’s county leadership to act decisively and honor the terms of the agreement signed last year. They emphasized that the strike is not intended to punish the public, but to compel the government to uphold its commitment to frontline healthcare workers.

“We want to work. We want to serve our people. But we also demand the dignity and fairness that was promised to us,” said a union representative during a press briefing.

As the clock ticks down, all eyes are now on Kilifi’s county government, which has yet to issue a formal response.

Should the strike go ahead, it could mark one of the most disruptive health service shutdowns in the region in recent memory—placing patient lives and public trust at risk.