Healthcare workers stage protests in Nairobi over posting of interns

Healthcare workers from several disciplines yesterday renewed various demands on national and county governments.

Their enhanced demands are on a number of issues they want addressed as a matter of urgency, even as the Committee on Health in the National Assembly vowed to block a government move to stop health workers from leaving Kenya for better working conditions.

In street processions, the healthcare workers marched to Afya House and Parliament, where they handed over their petitions. Top on their list of demands is the posting of interns, clinical officers and doctors immediately.

Led by Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) chairman Peterson Wachira, the medics also want the government to absorb Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff into permanent and pensionable employment.

“Why are we protesting?” he posed, and explained that it’s because of the government’s unresponsiveness. “We have written letters since December requesting for audience, in which we were asking for the immediate posting of interns. It never happened.

“We did a petition and requested that the people who offered services during Covid-19, and the UHC under a three-year contract, be absorbed under permanent and pensionable terms. But we all heard what came from the Council of Governors summit, that their contracts be extended by three more years,” he said.

Wachira said there are also UHC workers under contracts that are expiring in May, and interns waiting to be posted, which has delayed.

“However, it should be noted that we are not opposed to this contract extension but against the terms and conditions of the contracts, which are exploitative,” he stated.

The medics expressed concern that despite having worked for three years, fighting Covid-19, the government has been silent on their requests.

At Parliament, their petition was received by Seme MP James Nyikal, a member of the Health Committee, and his Molo counterpart  Kimani Kuria, who promised to ensure the issues raised are addressed appropriately.

Dr Nyikal said he would urge  other members to reject a government proposal to restrict healthcare workers who have secured employment opportunities abroad.