Clinical officers in Siaya County have suspended their 21-day strike after reaching an agreement with the county government, paving the way for the reopening of public health facilities and the restoration of medical services.
The breakthrough followed negotiations between officials from the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and the Siaya County Executive led by County Secretary Elizabeth Adongo.
The two sides signed a return-to-work agreement incorporating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), with implementation expected to begin next month.
KUCO Deputy Secretary General Austin Oduor said the agreement resolves several issues that had remained unresolved for months, including financial and administrative concerns raised by the union.
He said the county had committed to begin paying risk allowance in July alongside arrears dating back to June last year.
Oduor expressed appreciation to Governor James Orengo for facilitating the release of funds needed to implement the agreement but maintained that the union would scrutinise July payrolls to confirm that all commitments are honoured.
Under the agreement, the Siaya County Public Service Board will begin implementing career progression guidelines, with pending promotions and staff re-designations expected to commence next month.
The county has also agreed to establish a joint committee to oversee the implementation of the CBA and address any outstanding matters that may arise.
The settlement further provides for the resolution of delayed salaries and the processing of personal numbers for affected clinical officers, two issues that had featured prominently in the industrial dispute.
KUCO Siaya Branch Chairman Collins Omondi Ouma officially announced the suspension of the strike and called on all clinical officers to immediately resume duty in their respective health facilities.
KUCO National Trustee Wamalwa Simiyu thanked residents of Siaya for their patience during the three-week industrial action, acknowledging that patients had endured the greatest hardship as healthcare services remained disrupted.
The agreement is expected to restore normal operations across public health facilities while offering hope for improved labour relations between the county government and healthcare workers.
