The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) are demanding a total overhaul of the Social Health Authority (SHA), citing the untold suffering of patients seeking medical care in facilities across the country.
The two unions have issued a two-week ultimatum, threatening nationwide protests by civil servants from both county and national governments if their concerns are not addressed.
The unions, led by KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atela and UKCS Secretary General Tom Odege, criticized SHA’s inefficiency and accused the government of failing to follow through on its promises regarding the scheme.
According to union leaders, more than five million Kenyans are at risk of missing critical medical services due to the ineffective systems in place at SHA.
“The current leadership at SHA is weak, and for its success, leadership must be changed,” said Odege. “Public servants are contributing twice to the medical scheme, yet they are not receiving services commensurate with the deductions. We cannot sit and watch our members continue fundraising for medical expenses while their contributions are being mismanaged.”
The unions also accused President William Ruto’s administration of promoting a system that benefits a select few at the expense of the nation’s workers.
They called for an immediate refund of deductions made from civil servants, arguing that they have not been receiving the promised healthcare services.
Nyandarua Senator John Methu joined UHC staff outside Parliament, echoing the unions’ frustrations.
He criticized President Ruto’s administration for misplaced priorities, citing the president’s recent Ksh 20 million donation to a Roysambu church and a further promise of Ksh 100 million, while critical sectors such as healthcare remain underfunded.
“We are giving the government two weeks to address these issues,” said Atela. “If no action is taken, it will not be business as usual — we will call for nationwide protests to demand the change our members deserve.”
