HEALTH UNION CAUCUS PRESS STATEMENT ON PROTRACTED STRIKES IN NAIROBI AND MARSABIT COUNTIES
By Bruno Aero Family Media Staff Media
healthcare workers' strikes that continue to cripple health services in Nairobi and Marsabit
counties.
STRIKE DURATION:
Nairobi County: 65 days
Marsabit County: 115,
Healthcare workers in these two counties have been forced to withdraw their services due to
the respective county governments' persistent failure to honor their obligations to workers.
What began as legitimate industrial action to demand basic workers' rights has now evolved
into a full-blown healthcare crisis affecting millions of Kenyans.
For 115 days, the people of Marsabit County have been denied access to essential healthcare
services. The statistics paint a grim picture of a healthcare system in total collapse:
MARSABIT COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL
Outpatient services: 94.4% reduction (from 9,000 to 500 patients monthly)
Inpatient admissions: 83.3% reduction (from 600 to 100 patients)
Theatre cases: 42.3% reduction (from 104 to 60 cases) - sustained only by three nurse
Anaesthetists Overall service reduction: 93.2%
MOYALE SUB COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL
Outpatient services: 92.9% reduction (from 3,500 to 250 patients monthly)
Inpatient admissions: 87.4% reduction (from 87 to 11 patients)
Theatre cases: 87.5% reduction (from 80 to 10 cases) - maintained by only one nurse
Anaesthetist
Overall service reduction: 92.6%
KALACHA SUB COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL
Outpatient services: 87.5% reduction (from 1,200 to 150 patients monthly)
Inpatient admissions: 91% reduction (from 100 to 9 patients)
Theatre cases: 100% complete halt (from 10 to 0 cases) - no clinical officer Anaesthetist
available
Overall service reduction: 87.9%
LAISAMIS SUB COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL
Outpatient services: 85% reduction (from 2,000 to 300 patients monthly)
Inpatient admissions: 64.3% reduction (from 70 to 25 patients)
Theatre cases: 81.8% reduction (from 11 to 2 cases) - only one nurse Anaesthetist
available
Overall service reduction: 84.3%
Over 15,000 patients turned away monthly from outpatient services alone
Nearly 700 patients denied admission each month
133 surgical procedures not performed monthly
Overall healthcare service collapse: 89.5% across all four major facilities
Where are these patients going? What is happening to the mothers in labor, the sick children,
the accident victims, the emergency cases? This is not just a strike; this is a humanitarian crisis
unfolding in Marsabit County.
COUNTY GOVERNMENTS' INTIMIDATION AND CONTEMPT OF COURT
Beyond their failure to address legitimate grievances, both county governments have resorted
to intimidation tactics and blatant disregard for the rule of law
Marsabit County - Contempt of Court: The Marsabit County Government has shown flagrant
contempt for court orders, particularly regarding disciplinary procedures.
Despite clear court
directives spelling out proper disciplinary processes and worker protections, the county
government has
Ignored court orders and continued with arbitrary disciplinary actions Proceeded with unlawful victimization of striking workers,
Demonstrated willful defiance of judicial authority
These intimidation tactics are not only illegal but also inhumane, forcing healthcare workers
and their families into financial distress while they fight for their rightful dues.
Nairobi City County; Threats to stop salaries, coercion with show cause letters.
The administration has sent unknown people to break into the office of the Clinical Officer in
charge at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital as an act of intimidation
THE TRAGIC IRONY
The most tragic irony of this situation is that county governments would rather:
Watch 15,000+ patients monthly go without care
Allow theatre services to collapse completely in some facilities
Defy court orders
Intimidate and threaten workers
than simply honor their legal and moral obligations to healthcare workers.
OUR POSITION
The Health Union Caucus wishes to state categorically:
1. We stand in solidarity with our members who face daily intimidation and threats while
fighting for their legitimate rights.
2. We condemn in the strongest terms the intimidation tactics employed by both county
governments, including threats of salary stoppage and victimization.
3. We demand immediate compliance with all court orders, particularly in Marsabit
County where the court has clearly outlined proper disciplinary procedures.
4. The strikes will continue until county governments honor their commitments, respect
court orders, and cease all intimidation tactics.
5. We hold both county governments directly responsible for the healthcare crisis and the
suffering of patients denied care.
6. We call upon the Judiciary to enforce its orders and hold county officials in contempt
of court for their willful disobedience.
7. We demand that the Director of Public Prosecutions investigate and prosecute county
officials defying court orders.
8. We urge the national government to intervene decisively and declare the situation in
Marsabit County a healthcare emergency.
CONCLUSION
The data speaks for itself: 89.5% collapse in healthcare services across Marsabit County. Over
15,000 patients turned away monthly. Theatre services completely halted in some facilities.
This is not just a labor dispute — this is a full-blown humanitarian crisis.
Healthcare workers are not asking for favors, they are demanding what is rightfully theirs and
what has been affirmed by courts of law. No worker should be expected to provide services
without pay, under deplorable conditions, or while facing intimidation for exercising their
constitutional rights.
When county governments defy court orders, they don't just violate workers' rights—they ,
Assault the very foundation of our democracy and the rule of law. When they refuse to pay
healthcare workers, they don't just harm individuals—they condemn entire communities to
suffering and death.
We remain committed to dialogue but will not compromise on the fundamental rights and
welfare of our members. We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. We will not
surrender our dignity.
demands
We demand that Senate and Council of Governors intervene within 72 hours to
ensure these counties honor their legal and moral obligations to workers.
2. Should these strikes not be resolved immediately, the combined Unions will
officially commence a National Signature Collection Drive to petition for the
REVERSAL OF THE HEALTH FUNCTION
From Nairobi and Marsabit Counties
to the National Government under Article 187 of the Constitution.
If these counties cannot manage the health of their citizens, they must hand back the function
to the National Government.
We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. We will not surrender our dignity while
our patients die.
Signed For and on behalf of the Health Sector Caucus
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