Former Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff have threatened to resume demonstrations in November, demanding payment of six years of outstanding gratuity arrears, accusing the government of failing to honour its promises to the former employees.
In a statement, the former UHC workers said they would resume Tuesday demonstrations, commonly known as Maandamano, targeting the Ministry of Health, the Public Service Commission and Parliament until their demands are addressed.
The former employees said November would be dedicated to pursuing their gratuity claims, insisting that they were entitled to the payments following assurances previously made by President William Ruto.
They further argued that their appointment and related employment letters, which they say carry 2026 dates, support their demand for gratuity payments.
The group maintained that it would not relent until the government settles the outstanding arrears, which they say have accumulated over a six-year period.
The former UHC workers also announced plans to invoke Article 47 of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees every person the right to administrative action that is expeditious, efficient, lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair.
Article 47 further provides that where a right or fundamental freedom has been or is likely to be adversely affected by administrative action, the affected person has the right to be given written reasons.
The former employees appear to be seeking accountability from the relevant government institutions over the handling of their employment-related payments, arguing that their claims should be resolved without further delays.
Their planned demonstrations are expected to place renewed pressure on the Ministry of Health, the Public Service Commission and Parliament to address the outstanding gratuity claims and clarify the government's position on the matter.
The group has called on President Ruto to honour the commitment they say was made to them, insisting that the promised payments should be reflected in the resolution of their outstanding dues.
However, the specific amount owed to the former workers, the number of employees affected and the government's official position on the six-year gratuity claim were not immediately available.
The planned Tuesday protests signal a renewed push by the former UHC staff to secure what they consider to be their rightful benefits, with the group warning that demonstrations will continue until their demands are met.
The dispute adds to the pressure on the health sector over employment arrangements and the implementation of government health programmes, as former workers seek clarity on their outstanding entitlements.
