Public health students and university student leaders have given the government 48 hours to resolve the ongoing public health workers’ strike, threatening nationwide demonstrations from Wednesday, October 21, if their demands are not met.
The students, alongside officials of the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU), issued the ultimatum on Monday, October 19, during a media briefing at Kenyatta University.
The strike has entered its 90th day, with the union and students accusing the government of failing to address long-standing grievances affecting public health professionals.
“We are issuing a 48-hour notice to the government: you either end the strike, or we mobilise nationwide for demonstration this coming Wednesday,” one of the student leaders said.
The group wants the government to confirm workers employed under short-term Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Fund contracts on permanent and pensionable terms.
Other demands include higher risk allowances, implementation of signed collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), comprehensive medical cover and the deployment and payment of public health interns.
The students also called on President William Ruto to intervene and urged Parliament to investigate the allocation of funds and oversight of the public health sector.
“We are calling for Mr President to intervene, for Parliament to do your work of oversight. We want you to oversee this allocation of the amount. Why was public health left behind?” a student leader identified as Bike said.
The group warned that the prolonged strike could weaken Kenya’s disease surveillance and outbreak response at a time when the country is dealing with an Ebola outbreak.
Public health officers play a key role in monitoring disease outbreaks, inspecting sanitation facilities, ensuring food and water safety, and supporting contact tracing and disease prevention programmes.
Kenya confirmed its eighth Ebola case on Sunday, October 18, according to Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth, adding pressure on authorities to strengthen surveillance and containment efforts.
The students warned that continued disruption of preventive health services could leave gaps in the detection and control of infectious diseases.
The strike has also raised questions about staffing and the treatment of public health professionals, whose work often focuses on preventing disease before patients require hospital treatment.
The union has maintained that its demands remain unresolved despite the prolonged industrial action. It has called for intervention by the Ministry of Health, county governments and other relevant institutions.
The government now faces a Wednesday deadline to address the grievances or risk demonstrations across the country as the dispute enters its fourth month.
