Health workers in Nairobi are planning a protest over unpaid gratuities, following six years of service under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme. The demonstration is expected to take place in the city’s central business district. The workers, who were recruited under the UHC initiative, claim they have not received their gratuity payments despite completing their contractual terms.
The dispute has been ongoing for several years, with workers alleging that the government and implementing agencies have failed to meet their financial obligations. According to internal communications shared with local media, the workers have not received any formal response to their repeated requests for payment. Some have reported that their employment contracts explicitly outlined gratuity provisions, yet these remain unfulfilled.
The UHC programme, launched in 2013, aimed to provide affordable healthcare to all Kenyans. However, the financial sustainability of the programme has been a subject of debate. The current protest highlights the challenges faced by public sector workers in securing timely compensation. The government has not yet commented on the matter, but officials have previously acknowledged the need for improved financial management in public health services.
