Governors have brokered a deal to stop Monday’s strike by some 5,000 clinical officers across the country.
They have formed a task force to draft higher salaries for clinicians in public hospitals within 14 days.
A strike by the clinical officers would have devastated hospitals because they have stepped in for striking doctors and taken up many clinical roles, including dialysis, C-sections and prescriptions.
Yesterday’s morning meeting at the Council of Governors offices in Nairobi lasted four hours.
It was attended by governors James Ongwae (Kisii), Samuel Ranguma (Kisumu), Kinuthia Mbugua (Nakuru) and CoG chief executive Jacqueline Mogeni.
Officials of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers and the Kenya Health Professional Society were also invited.
Governor Ongwae said there is goodwill to compensate clinical officers and nurses. He praised them for their patriotism.
“We are asking county governments to protect clinical officers who are ready to work and provide health services to Kenyans,” Ongwae said.
The clinicians briefly joined the nurse’s strike last month, but suspended their action for 45 days to allow the government to consider their demands.
Those days elapse on Monday.
“We have suspended our strike for 21 more days to give the task force time to work on the recommendations,” Kenya Union of Clinical Officers deputy secretary general Austin Otieno said. The taskforce will comprise officials from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Public Service Commission, CoG and unions.
It has 14 days to complete its work for discussion or adoption.
The clinical officers are asking for between 300 to 400 per cent increase to their basic salaries.
Currently, the lowest paid diploma holder earns Sh24,000 basic salary every month, which the union wants increased to Sh104,000.