Kenyan healthcare workers end 70-day strike

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – The striking healthcare workers in Kenya Tuesday called off their strike following a court order.

The healthcare professionals have been on strike for the past 70 days due to lack of protective gears and other facilities in hospitals.

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officer (KUCO) Chairman, Peter Wachira, at a news conference ordered all striking clinical officers to report back to work although most of their grievances have yet to be addressed.

Justice Maureen Onyango ruled that all disciplinary measures put in place due to the strike that had been deemed illegal will be stopped and directed that clinical officers should be paid their salaries.

Wachira said: “We raised a number of issues that the employers have failed to address even as we resume duties. We shall only offer services when supplied with appropriate protective gear. We will remain vigilant and ensure the welfare and safety of clinical officers.”

The health workers complained that lack of protective gears has turned them into super-spreaders of the COVID-19 infection, warning that the healthcare system in the East African country is in critical condition.