Details of the Return to Work Formula (RTWF) between the Council of Governors (CoG) and Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) can now be revealed.
KUCO on Monday called off their nationwide strike after members downed their tools for over three months.
KUCO Secretary General George Gibore called off the strike after signing a return to work formula with the governors.
According to the document, seen by the Star, employers shall commence negotiating a Collective Bargaining Agreement and conclude it in 60 days from the date of the execution of the RTWF.
“The proposed risk allowance shall be negotiated and paid upon approval by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission,” reads the document.
The RTWF further says county governments that have not promoted and re-designated clinical officers to commence the process in accordance with the prevailing public service guidelines and policies within one month and complete the same by September 1, 2024.
The county government will also be required to replace officers who have exited service due to natural attrition and recruit clinical officers annually based on the availability of resources and informed by staffing norms and staff establishments.
The deal further requires the Ministry of Health to allocate adequate budget to counties to cater for Universal Health Coverage and COVID-19 employees’ salaries at prevailing market rates.
Clinical officers began their strike on April 1, after a seven-day strike notice, which was issued on March 25.
On June 23, the clinicians maintained that their strike would go on until all the issues they had raised were addressed.
The clinicians were demanding that the national and county governments issue confirmation letters on permanent and pensionable terms to UHC staff hired during the COVID-19 period.
They also wanted the national government and counties to recruit more than 20,000 unemployed and qualified clinical officers to cover the existing shortage.
The union also demanded the government provide comprehensive medical cover for all actively serving clinical officers in the public sector so they can access services wherever they need them.