Calls for the government to ensure universal health cover under the Social Health Authority works dominated day one of the doctors' strike, which clinical officers joined despite the government having said they called off their boycott.
The strike was called by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Dentists and Pharmacists Union (KMPDU), with secretary general Dr Davji Atellah saying it's in response to the government's failure to implement a return-to-work-formula signed on May 8, 2024.
Speaking at the onset of the strike on Tuesday, Atellah said it's only the political class who are saying SHA is working because they enjoy private medical cover.
"There's no way Social Health Authority is said to be working by the political leaders who have huge medical insurances when all the patients, including doctor patients, are saying it's not working," he said.
"There's no way the politicians would be saying it's working when the hospital owners are saying it's not working. Something has to be done. Something has to be done and it has to be done now," he added.
Using the rallying call 'Employ, Equip, Enforce', the doctors also called on the government to employ intern doctors on permanent terms, equip hospitals and implement the return-to-work formula.
Banners carried by the healthcare givers indicated that clinical officers were part of the job boycott despite Health CS Deborah Barasa having said in a statement dated March 11 that they had called off their strike.
"Over the past few weeks, our clinical officers and the Ministry of Health have engaged in extensive and progressive consultations with all relevant stakeholders in a bid to find an amicable resolution to the issues at hand," Barasa said.
"Today, I am pleased to announce that following productive discussions, the clinical officers' strike has been called off following negotiations between the Ministry of Health and the leadership of our clinical workers' caucus."
Doctors are back on the streets for the first time since May 8, 2024, when they ended a 56-day nationwide strike following the signing of a return-to-work formula.
In the deal, the Ministry of Health pledged to address salary arrears, hire trainee doctors and provide comprehensive medical insurance for all doctors.
The ministry agreed to address key concerns raised by KMPDU, including the implementation of a 2017 collective bargaining agreement that would see intern doctors receive Sh206,000, effective immediately, and the disbursement of 50 per cent of the basic salary arrears.
Doctors called off another nationwide strike that was slated for December 22, 2024, after the government showed commitment to implement the 2017 CBA.
Speaking on Monday evening, Atellah stated in a video message that the government's end of the bargain had not been honoured.
"Such a time last year, March 2024, we were on the streets; we negotiated with the government, went on strike and got an agreement. Again this year 2025 we are back on the streets," he said.
In a separate video message, KMPDU deputy secretary general Dr Dennis Miskellah said doctors are left without cover when they fall sick, asking: "Who cares for the carer?"
He used a colleague's illness as a case study saying he accumulated a bill of S300,000 but SHA paid only Sh30,000.
"When you ask them they say 'go follow with the legislators you change how much SHA can pay'."
"So guys we can't wait any more. We are all potential patients that's why we must fight very very hard that SHA must work for us all," he said.
