Nairobi County clinical officers holding peaceful demonstration in CBD on April 30, 2025./DOUGLAS OKIDDYClinical officers say Kenya’s recurring health sector strikes are the result of unresolved disputes dating back several years, with past agreements remaining largely unimplemented. Wachira says whenever clinical officers down tools, negotiations often lead to written commitments and timelines, but implementation rarely follows once workers resume duty. In 2021, clinical officers were ordered back to work by the courts, with directions that employers also resolve the outstanding issues. He says Ministry of Health data indicates Kenya requires about 24,000 clinical officers to effectively deliver universal health coverage, yet only about 6,000 are currently serving in public facilities. However, clinical officers insist they will not sign another Return to Work Formula without full implementation of court directives and the CBA.
