By Anne Nyambura
The Kenya Civil Servants Union (UKCS) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, threatening a nationwide protest starting March 18 if their concerns regarding the Social Health Authority (SHA) are not addressed.
Led by KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah and UKCS Chairman Tom Odege, the unions have raised alarm over the suffering of both medical practitioners and patients due to inefficiencies in the SHA system. They claim that despite contributing to the medical scheme, members are not receiving services proportional to their deductions. The unions are demanding an immediate overhaul of the SHA leadership, terming it weak and ineffective.
"Failure to do so will trigger nationwide demonstrations starting March 18, 2025, escalating into a full-scale national strike within 30 days if a functional and comprehensive medical insurance scheme is not reinstated," said AtellahAdditionally, the unions are calling for the refund of deductions made from their members, arguing that they have not been receiving the promised healthcare services.
"Our members are contributing twice to the medical scheme, yet they cannot access the services they have paid for. This is unacceptable," said Dr. Atellah.The ultimatum comes just two days after Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s report revealed that despite heavy public investment, the government neither owns nor controls the SHA system. The unions have vowed to continue their protests until the government takes decisive action to implement a comprehensive and effective medical insurance scheme.
"As a union, we will not tolerate any arrangement that denies doctors and all civil servants their rightful entitlements," Atellah added
