Aasai

*"The Forgotten Pillars of UHC: A Cry from the Shadows* "

When former Health CS Mutahi Kagwe addressed the nation during the COVID-19 crisis, he called us the “foot soldiers” of Kenya’s healthcare system. The country clapped for us from their balconies. We were hailed as heroes.

Among those heroes was Hunnington, a dedicated UHC nurse stationed at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). He showed up every day — through pandemics, strikes, salary delays, and heartbreak. He had nothing but hope. Hope in a system that ultimately failed him.

From CS Mutahi Kagwe to Susan Nakhumicha, to Dr. Deborah Barasa, and now CS Aden Duale — each came with promises of reform, of fairness, of honouring UHC workers. But Hunnington never saw any of those promises fulfilled.

He died on 18th April 2025 — not in retirement, not surrounded by loved ones, but in uniform.

He collapsed while attending to a patient at KNH. He was rushed to ICU. But we lost him.

Now, his colleagues are left trying to raise Kshs 1.5 million to clear his ICU bill through harambees.

The government has remained silent. Not a single coin has come through. Not even a tribute.

Hunnington died for a system that refuses to fight for him.

And his story is not unique.

Thousands of UHC staff are on the edge — emotionally, financially, and physically.

We earn a quarter of what our counterparts on permanent and pensionable (PNP) terms make.

We work full-time but live part-time lives — battling depression, watching our children drop out of school, and skipping medical care we ourselves help deliver.

Some of us are dying in silence.

Some are nearing retirement age without a single benefit to show for it.

The service gratuity, which was gazetted in 2020, remains unpaid. Five years of waiting.

And when we met with CS Aden Duale, he asked for three more weeks to fix the UHC stalemate.

Those three weeks ended on 22nd April 2025.

As of today, there’s been no update, no change on our payslips, and nothing in our bank accounts.

We are tired.

We are angry.

And we are done waiting.

This Tuesday, 29th April 2025, over 8,000 UHC healthcare workers will take to the streets of Nairobi.

We will camp at the Ministry of Health, the Senate, the National Assembly, SRC, CoG, and PSC Kenya — until someone listens.

Our demands are simple and long overdue:

1. Pay our 5-year gratuity as per the 2020 Gazette Notice.

2. Confirm all UHC staff to permanent and pensionable terms.

We are not asking for favours.

We are demanding justice for Hunnington. For all the unsung heroes. For every child who wonders why their parent can heal others but can’t afford school fees.

Because UHC is nothing without us.

And we will not be silent anymore.

#JusticeForHunnington

#UHCWorkersDeservePNP

#UHCisNothingWithoutUs

#29thAprilUHCTuesday