The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (Kuco) has issued a 14-day notice to Kajiado county urging them to address issues affecting their members' failure to which they will proceed on a strike.
In a letter dated November 2, addressed to the county secretary seen by the Star, the union has given the county a 14-day grace period to address the issues which include lack of promotions and redesignations of their members.
The letter which has since been stamped as received by the county secretary is also copied to the County Labour Officer, CEO County Public Service Board, CECM Health and Kuco Kajiado branch secretary.
In the letter, Kuco SG George Gibore noted that clinical officers in the county have failed to either be promoted or redesignated for a long time, some for five or seven years.
According to Gibore, the complaints raised have been pending for a long period without any meaningful response from the county government.
“We are left with no alternative but to initiate industrial action. We hereby issue a notice that if the county government of Kajiado does not take immediate steps to address these concerns, a strike will commence after 14 working days from the date herein,” he said in the letter.
Gibore termed the lack of recognition and career progression as disheartening, prejudicial and tantamount to mutilation of the existing Human Resources for health policies and regulations.
The union is also seeking a solution for the reported failure by the county to remit third-party deductions by its members.
In the letter, the union has noted that third-party deductions such as pension contributions remain unremitted for more than 10 months hence putting the members in a state of financial insecurity.
They also want the problem of chronic shortage of staff addressed.
“The chronic shortage of healthcare staff, particularly in Level 4 and 5 health facilities is resulting in burnout, denial of annual leave and a decrease in the quality of healthcare services provided to the people of Kajiado county,” the letter reads.
“It is our sincere hope that you will engage with us in constructive and meaningful dialogue to resolve these issues before the 14-day notice period elapses."
