Kenyan health workers’ union, KMPDU, is preparing for new round of actions in response to police brutality against trade union officials during a demonstration
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers and the government signed a 17-point return to work agreement which addresses major issues such as comprehensive health insurance and hospitalization for health workers who have contracted the infection
Health workers are demanding payment of salaries, comprehensive health insurance, quality PPEs, increase in risk allowances, and conversion of contract workers into permanent employees with access to pensions
The Kenyan government’s approval of insurance cover addresses only one of the key demands of health workers as many professionals are unhappy over unpaid remittances, lack of PPEs and pending promotions
Very little progress has been made in resolving the issues raised by doctors and nurses in Kenya. Meanwhile, protests have broken out in many cities against alleged misappropriation of funds for COVID-19 equipment