Clinical officers in Kwale County have called off their strike and are set to resume duty immediately after reaching an agreement with the County Government of Kwale.

The decision follows a consultative meeting between the county government and the leadership of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), aimed at addressing grievances that had led to the industrial action and finding a lasting solution to the dispute.

The strike had disrupted healthcare services in several public health facilities across the county, with clinical officers raising concerns over the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), payment of salary arrears, promotions, recruitment of additional staff and implementation of career progression guidelines.

Among the key issues addressed during the negotiations was the implementation of career progression guidelines for clinical officers.

The agreement is expected to provide clarity on entry points, promotion opportunities and progression within the clinical officers’ career structure, while also addressing concerns over stagnation and professional growth.

The county government and KUCO leadership also agreed on measures to address other outstanding issues raised by the clinical officers, paving the way for the healthcare workers to return to their stations.

The return to work is expected to restore normal operations in public health facilities across Kwale and improve access to healthcare services for residents.

The two sides have further committed to continued consultations to ensure the agreed measures are implemented and to prevent similar disputes from disrupting healthcare services in the future.