Kenya National Public Health Officers Union Secretary General Brown Ashira at Radio Maisha on July 4, 2026. [Bernard Orwongo, Standard]
The Kenya National Public Health Officers Union (KNPHOU) wants the health function returned to the national government, blaming devolution for the sector's persistent problems.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 4, during an interview on Spice FM, KNPHOU Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer Brown Ashira accused county governments of repeatedly failing to implement Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) despite years of negotiations and signed agreements.
Ashira said the failure to honour CBAs sits at the centre of recurring health workers' strikes disrupting services in public hospitals.
"What appears to be simple issues are not being taken seriously. That is why we have these perennial strikes and why the health sector is in the state it is today," he said.
He argued the current devolved health system no longer works and should be reviewed.
"We need to agree that it is not working at the counties. Health should be under the national government. We cannot continue having the same issues year after year," he noted.