Nairobi County directs striking doctors to resume duty, cites progress in talks

The Nairobi City County Government now says it has made substantial progress in addressing grievances raised by striking doctors and clinical officers, as it intensifies efforts to end the ongoing industrial action that has paralysed public health services in the capital.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Health, Wellness and Nutrition Department, County Executive Committee Member Suzanne Silantoi said the county has maintained sustained engagement with health sector unions and implemented key reforms aimed at improving the welfare of healthcare workers.

Silantoi said the county has rolled out comprehensive medical cover for health workers under the SHA Civil Servants Scheme, advanced promotions across common cadre job groups, and set aside a Ksh.424 million supplementary budget to clear all pending promotions. She added that more than 98 per cent of health workers have now been confirmed into permanent and pensionable terms, with all salaries and statutory third-party deductions fully paid.

Against this backdrop, the county directed doctors and clinical officers currently on strike to resume duty within 12 hours, warning that failure to comply would attract disciplinary action and loss of pay. At the same time, NCCG sought to reassure residents that public health services remain operational across all county health facilities.

“The Nairobi City County Government remains fully committed to resolving labour-related issues through dialogue, while ensuring that healthcare services continue uninterrupted for all Nairobi residents,” Silantoi said.

The county further clarified that gratuity obligations arising from service under the former Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) fall under the National Government. However, NCCG said it has committed to settling gratuity for periods served under the County Government and continues to engage national authorities to secure a comprehensive and lasting solution.

Expressing concern over what it described as the politicisation of the strike, the county said the ongoing industrial action has caused unnecessary disruption of essential health services. Silantoi stressed that while dialogue remains open, patient welfare must take precedence.

“While we remain open to dialogue, the disruption of essential health services is unacceptable, and all health workers on strike are required to resume duty to safeguard the well-being of Nairobians,” she said.

Despite the strike, the county assured residents that services across all public health facilities remain available and urged the public to continue seeking medical care without fear. NCCG reiterated its commitment to delivering quality, accessible and uninterrupted healthcare to all Nairobi residents.

Public health services in Nairobi have, however, been severely disrupted for the third week running following the withdrawal of services by healthcare workers. Doctors have been on strike for 27 days, while clinical officers have downed their tools for 23 days.

Doctors commenced their industrial action in mid-December, with clinical officers later joining the strike. The workers have vowed not to resume duty until all outstanding payments are cleared and their grievances addressed. Clinical officers’ key demands include payment of salary arrears, implementation of the salary review, operationalisation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and permanent employment for staff engaged under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.