National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has moved to avert a further crisis in the health sector as he announced plans for legislative and budgetary intervention to end the stalemate between the government and the medics.
Wetang’ula spoke during a meeting with officials from the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), where he assured them of the National Assembly's commitment to have their grievances addressed.
Late in May, healthcare workers drawn from various unions and associations threatened a nationwide strike if their demands were not met within two weeks.
At the same time, UHC staff persisted with their strike, which has gone on well beyond 100 days, citing inaction on crucial welfare and employment issues.
The speaker confirmed that he had received a petition from the striking workers and had issued directives to the National Assembly Committee on Health to allocate resources in the 2025/26 national budget to address their grievances.
During the meeting with officials, Wetang’ula further disclosed that the National Assembly earmarked funds in the upcoming budget to tackle issues raised by UHC staff.
Key grievances Wetang’ula seeks to address through the National Assembly include placing them on permanent and pensionable terms and payment of outstanding gratuities.
"I received a petition from the striking UHC workers and immediately directed the National Assembly Committee on Health to allocate resources in the 2025/26 budget to address their concerns," Wetan'gula confirmed. “These demands are not only valid but essential for ensuring stability in our healthcare workforce."
Despite expressing willingness to help UHC workers with their cause, Wetang’ula also noted that the implementation of the commitments hinged on the formal approval and appropriation of funds when the National Budget is presented on Thursday, June 12.
Wetan'gula further appealed to the chairman Kenya Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), Nicholas Odipo to suspend the ongoing strike, pending the budget's passage.
In response, Odipo welcomed the Speaker's intervention, as he admitted that UHC workers tend to stage demonstrations outside parliament to draw attention to their grievances.
Part of the grievances Odipo highlighted, which consistently prompt industrial action, include unfulfilled government promises on permanent employment, salary harmonisation in accordance with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) guidelines, and lack of access to benefits such as health insurance, pensions, and professional development opportunities.
On Tuesday, Parliament finalised the 2025/2026 budgetary allocations, with UHC workers gathering outside parliament to make one final plea to secure Ksh6.1 billion needed for their employment regularisation.
