The Kenya Civil Servants Union (UKCS) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have given the government a two-week ultimatum, threatening nationwide protests starting March 18 unless their concerns regarding the Social Health Authority (SHA) are addressed. This warning comes after ongoing frustrations over the inefficiencies within the SHA system, which the unions claim is harming both medical practitioners and patients alike.
The unions, led by KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah and UKCS Chairman Tom Odege, have voiced serious concerns about the lack of adequate services for members who contribute to the medical scheme. Despite regular deductions from their salaries for the scheme, members report that they are not receiving services commensurate with the money being taken from them.
In addition to the call for action, the unions are demanding a complete overhaul of the SHA leadership, which they describe as weak and ineffective. They argue that the leadership’s failures have led to severe disruptions in the healthcare services provided to public servants and citizens who depend on the scheme.
The unions are also requesting that the government refund the deductions made from members who have yet to see the promised benefits of the medical scheme. This demand for a refund was intensified by a recent report from the Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu, which highlighted significant issues within the SHA system. According to the report, despite heavy public investments in the program, the government neither owns nor effectively controls the SHA, further complicating efforts to address the concerns of its members.
If the government does not respond positively by the deadline of March 18, the unions have vowed to escalate their protests, continuing until decisive action is taken to reform the SHA system and ensure a functioning medical insurance scheme for all civil servants. This growing discontent signals a critical turning point in the ongoing battle for reliable and accessible healthcare services in Kenya.
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