The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has strongly criticized the Marsabit County Government for what the union has described as negligence that has brought the county’s health system to collapse.
KUCO National Chairman Peterson Wachira speaking in Nairobi said that neonatal deaths in the county are on the rise and he calls for an end to the clinical officers’ strike that has now gone for 151 days. He said that due to the poor situation, many residents have started getting sick and getting their healthcare services in Ethiopia.
The strike, organised by KUCO, came about because of the unresolved grievances one of which is the alleged failure of the county to implement the three return to work agreements that were signed with union officials by the county with which the union is not happy.
Wachira gave examples of the tremendous effects that have been witnessed with outpatient visits having dropped by 95. 5 per cent – from over 15,000 patients to just 700 – and at the same time hospital admissions having decreased by 88 per cent.
Meanwhile, major facilities like Moyale, Kalacha and Naisamit hospitals are almost completely out of action thus patients have to travel long distances for care.
The union has further alleged that the county government is involved in victimisation as they claim clinical officers have been removed from the payroll and have not been paid their salaries since December 2025.