Nairobi hospitals paralysed as doctors' strike enters fourth week, more health workers to join

Health services across public hospitals in Nairobi have been paralysed for nearly four weeks now following the withdrawal of services by healthcare workers.

Doctors have been on strike for 27 days, while clinical officers have downed their tools for the last 23 days.

All remaining health cadres are expected to join the strike on Thursday at midnight, a move that is likely to further cripple service delivery in public hospitals across the county. 

At Mbagathi County Referral Hospital, patients are stranded at the waiting bay, spending hours without access to the care they came to seek as the biting healthcare workers’ strike continues to take its toll.

Most service points at the facility remain deserted. The few nurses on duty say they are overwhelmed by the influx of patients.

Doctors in Nairobi County have vowed to continue with the strike, citing unpaid salaries and benefits.

They accuse Governor Johnson Sakaja of consistently failing to honour signed agreements and the return-to-work formula.

“With Sakaja, there is no medical cover, no promotions and now delayed salaries. It is getting worse and worse. I can tell Nairobians that the leadership at the county level does not care for you,” said Dr. Deogracious Maero, KMPDU Nairobi Branch Chairman.

Dr. Malindi Chao, Nairobi Branch Secretary, added: “As we speak now, even the clinical officers are on strike, and other cadres are joining tomorrow. We are telling you that health is not working in Nairobi. All we are saying is that wananchi wa Nairobi mjue hakuna madaktari hospitali, and if you go, the person treating you is not a doctor. We urge you to seek medical care elsewhere because it is going to get worse.”

Doctors who commenced their industrial action in mid last month were later joined by clinical officers.

Both groups insist they will not resume work until all outstanding payments are cleared and their grievances addressed.

Clinical officers say their key demands include salary arrears, implementation of a salary review, operationalisation of the collective bargaining agreement and permanent employment for Universal Health Coverage staff.

“He does not want to sign a CBA for the few people he negotiated for eight years ago. Does he know that he negotiated for only eight people? That is a clear admission of a system that has failed,” said Dr. George Gibore, KUCO Secretary General.

KUCO Chair Peterson Wachira stated: “We have 47 governors who continue to be negligent and portray impunity, despite having received all the approvals. The governors and the ministry have not even seen a reason to call us to sit down and conclude the CBA.”

The situation is expected to deteriorate further when nurses and laboratory officers join the strike on Thursday at midnight after the expiry of their strike notice over unpaid salaries and allowances.