SHA crisis: Doctors, civil servants to strike next week over lack of medical cover

Doctors and civil servants will on Tuesday next week take to the streets to protest against what they term as discrepancies and omissions affecting their sectors within the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The professionals will be led by elected officials of their respective umbrella bodies; the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), as well as the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS).

KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah and his UKCS counterpart Tom Odege notified the authorities of their planned go slow through a letter requesting for security from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.

The two noted that the protest is intended to raise their voices against the government’s failure to implement the Public Officers Medical Fund under SHA, thereby leaving out civil servants stranded without medical coverage.

They stated, in the joint letter to the police boss, that the protest will begin at 8am at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), then proceed to the SHA buildings, then the Ministry of Health, before heading on to the Ministry of Public Service and concluding at the National Treasury.

“This is to notify you that we shall be having a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday 18th March, 2025 starting from 8:00AM. This demonstration is aimed at demanding accountability for the deducted funds and ensuring that civil servants and all public officers receive the medical coverage they are entitled to,” read the letter to the IG.

“We therefore request you to offer us security on this important mission and also ask ALL the police officers and teachers to join us during this demonstration since they are also not getting the services that they deserve. We shall abide by all the regulations and guidelines given by your office.”