Nairobi clinical officers accuse Sakaja of frustrating their career growth
Muthama emphasised that the deployment of the five officers would help address the ongoing shortage of healthcare workers in the county.
Nairobi County clinical officers have accused Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration of frustrating their career growth by failing to implement a national policy on staff progression.
The officers, who staged protests outside City Hall on Thursday, demanded the immediate rollout of the guideline, saying their careers have stagnated for years due to inaction.
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Led by Stephen Muthama, the chairperson of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) Nairobi Branch, the protestors expressed frustration over the county’s refusal to implement the career progression guidelines.
The policy, developed by the Public Service Commission in May 2024 in consultation with various stakeholders, is meant to govern recruitment, promotion, redesignation and retention of clinical officers.
“We went on strike, the policy document went through, but Nairobi City County has declined and refused to implement it. Our demand is that they implement it in totality. That is the guideline that dictates our career progression, our career development from internship to retirement,” Muthama said during the protest.
He further stressed the need for action, saying, “We are demanding that Nairobi City County adopts and implements the guideline with immediate effect. We cannot have a county that prides itself as a city of order, dignity and opportunities, and they are denying us opportunities.”
The clinical officers are also calling for the immediate posting of five officers who, despite being shortlisted, interviewed and issued appointment letters in 2023, have yet to be deployed.
“These people were shortlisted, interviewed, got appointment letters last year and up to date, they have never been posted. Our demand, number one, is that the five clinical officers be posted to serve Nairobians,” Muthama explained.
In addition to the delayed postings, the officers are demanding the promotion of long-serving colleagues who have remained in the same job group for years without advancement.
“We are asking them to promote and re-designate all deserving clinical officers with immediate effect because you have the policy document that will help you to actualise that,” he added.
Muthama emphasised that the deployment of the five officers would help address the ongoing shortage of healthcare workers in the county.
“The deployment of these officers would help solve the shortage of healthcare workers in the devolved unit,” he said.
He urged the county government to act swiftly and implement the long-awaited career progression guidelines and address the concerns of the health workers.
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