Leaders from the Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) addressing the Media in Makueni on April 8, 2026. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Medical unions in Makueni County have issued a 14-day strike notice, piling pressure on Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s administration to address what they describe as deep-rooted injustices in the health sector.
Leaders from the Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) warned that failure to act on long-standing grievances could paralyze healthcare services across the county.
Speaking on behalf of clinical officers, Makueni KUCO chairman Mathew Sila accused the county government of deliberately frustrating the implementation of return-to-work agreements signed after previous strikes.
“A return-to-work formula is a binding document with clear timelines. For clinical officers, implementation timelines were set at two months per item, yet we are still grappling with about 80 percent non-implementation,” he said.
Sila noted that while the government had acknowledged career guidelines for clinical officers, their execution had been marred by inconsistencies and inequities. He cited cases where officers were irregularly placed in job groups, undermining seniority and career progression.
“Some officers who were in Job Group H were moved to J, while others who should have progressed to K remain stuck. This is a deliberate attempt to defeat justice,” he added, warning that such actions risk sabotaging the President’s broader healthcare reform agenda.
On their part, nurses painted a grim picture of employment conditions within the county’s health facilities.
KNUN Makueni chairman Muriuki Muruathika accused the county of bypassing formal hiring structures by resorting to hospital-based contract workers, many of whom are allegedly underpaid and lack job security.
“You find nurses, clinical officers and lab technologists earning as little as Sh25,000 to Sh30,000, with delayed salaries. These are punitive terms that compromise service delivery,” he said.
Muruathika further alleged that the practice had been sanctioned at senior administrative levels, effectively sidelining the Makueni County Public Service Board—the legally mandated hiring authority.
He warned that the widespread use of such contracts was diluting the quality of healthcare services, as underpaid and demoralized workers struggle to meet professional standards.
The unions also raised alarm over alleged corruption in recruitment, claiming that some applicants are being asked to pay between Sh300,000 and Sh500,000 to secure jobs.
“Where are ordinary Kenyans expected to get such money? Are parents supposed to sell land to educate their children and again to secure employment?” Muruathika posed.
They further criticized the county for what they termed as inadequate recruitment, citing a recent advertisement of only 14 nursing positions as grossly insufficient given the demand for services.
Concerns were also raised over the hiring of unlicensed personnel with minimal training, a move the unions warned could endanger patient safety. Additionally, they faulted the prolonged acting appointments in key leadership positions within the health department, calling for immediate confirmation of directors.
In response, Makueni Chief Officer for Health Dr. Harvey Mulei Mbithi defended the county government, stating that efforts had been made to improve workers’ welfare, including salary enhancements reflected in current payslips.
He dismissed claims of political interference as unsubstantiated, urging unions to formally present evidence for investigation.
“We are open to engagement and have consistently involved unions in key discussions, including staff establishment processes. We invite them to table their concerns, and we are ready to meet even immediately,” said Mbithi.
He emphasized that the county values unions as critical stakeholders and remains committed to dialogue to resolve the impasse.
With the 14-day notice now in effect, attention shifts to whether negotiations between the county government and unions will yield a breakthrough—or plunge Makueni’s health sector into another disruptive strike.
