For many health workers in Nairobi, the past three months have been marked by frustration and financial strain as they waited for salaries that never came.
On Thursday, October 2, their anger spilled onto the streets as they marched from Jeevanjee Gardens to the county offices to demand what they described as their rightful pay. The workers, drawn from seven health unions, said the delays had left them unable to meet basic needs such as rent, school fees, and transport to work.
They accused the county executive of betrayal and warned that all health facilities in the city risked closure if the issue was not resolved immediately.
Their frustration was clearly expressed during the protests.
“Imagine living in Nairobi without being paid for three months, you have school fees to pay, rent, it’s not like we are walking to work, there are so many things. We went on strike and they have not implemented anything,” said Dr. Malindi Chao, secretary of KMPDU Nairobi branch.
Her words were echoed by Stephene Muthama, chairperson of KUCO Nairobi branch, who pointed out broken promises from the employer.
” They committed to be paying every 5th day of the month. Look, it’s been three months, we are being deducted loans and sacco and these monies are not being submitted,” he said.
The workers said they have endured stagnant salaries for years while new deductions such as the housing levy and the Social Health Authority have reduced their take-home pay even further. To make matters worse, they revealed they cannot access medical services after their SHA cover was suspended.
” SHA came, it reduced our payslips. The housing levy came, and we are not being promoted. In this tough economy, we are living with the same salary from 10 years ago, 5 years ago. So by the time you see a healthcare worker on the street, we are not meant for the street. Honestly, hatupumui tena,” added Dr. Chao.
Denis Oduor, secretary of KNUMLO Nairobi branch, said workers have repeatedly engaged their employer in discussions but agreements are rarely honoured.
“We have had the employer commit to these issues only for them to go back against the agreements. That’s part of why we are on the streets. We are wondering why we always sit at the table and discuss things that don’t end up being implemented,” he said.
In response to the growing pressure, County Executive Committee Member for Finance Charles Kerich announced that August and September salaries had been paid on Thursday. He pledged that the remaining arrears would be settled within a week once the National Treasury released the county’s equitable share allocation for September.
The unrest in Nairobi comes as neighbouring Kiambu County also struggles with a prolonged doctors’ strike. Members of Parliament from the region raised alarm over the worsening healthcare situation, claiming lives have already been lost due to lack of medical attention.
” We read that almost 136 infants have died in neonatal and paediatric wards due to the absence of personnel to administer care. Not less than 20 mothers have lost their lives during childbirth or preventable post-delivery complications, cases that would not have been fatal,” said Mburu Kahangara, MP for Lari.Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a described hospitals in the county as being in critical condition, saying, “Hospitals in Kiambu county are in ICU. Hospitals themselves are sick. There are no medicines, no doctors.”
The leaders urged Governor Kimani Wamatangi to find an immediate solution to the crisis and restore healthcare services for residents.
The protests in Nairobi and the crisis in Kiambu reflect a growing concern about the stability of county-run healthcare systems, where workers say they feel undervalued and unsupported even as they serve at the front line of public health.
