CoG, Clinical Officers union in talks to resolve deadlock

The Council of Governors has kick started talks with the Kenyan Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) with a view to iron out outstanding issues as captured in their strike notice, with a view to ending their ongoing strike.

The meeting at the Council of Governors headquarters in Westlands Tuesday morning laid down the issues up for discussion with the clinical officers union insisting on honoring a 2021 CBA that pushed for a risk allowance of Ksh 15,000.

CoG, however, holds the view matters money can only be discussed with the National Government

This comes after KUCO issued a seven-day strike notice accusing both the National and County Governments of failing to keep their end of bargain.

KUCO faulted the two levels of government of failing to implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2017 with the most recent agreement signed by the Health Ministry in July, 2023.

“Despite our continuous engagement in negotiations aimed at realizing the first CBA for our members since November 2017, a resolution to this effect remains elusive,” said KUCO last month.

Clinical officers regretted the decision by the Council of Governors of failing to resume negotiations after the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Pet. No. 211 OF 2019 ordered the parties to resume talks.

Amongst the demands the Clinical Officers umbrella include; implementation of the enhanced Risk Allowance of Ksh 15,000, promotion of its officers and re-designation to deserving officers, recruitment of over 20,000 officers to cover the existing shortage, issue letters of pensionable positions for all UHC staff, Covid-19 employees and UHC interns.

Others include; payment of Clinical Officer Interns as per the approved establishment by PSC, approval of Career Progression Guidelines for its officers and the reinstatement of all dismissed officers by the County Government of Kirinyaga.