Medical workers’ unions have announced the immediate withdrawal of their personnel from all healthcare facilities affected by violence during the Saba Saba protests.

This follows an attack at Kitengela Sub-County Hospital, where individuals posing as protesters broke into the facility, assaulted staff and vandalised critical medical equipment and infrastructure.

In a joint statement, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) said the workers will remain off duty until the government guarantees their safety.

“We hereby announce the immediate withdrawal of all unionised health personnel from all health facilities in areas affected by violence, until the government guarantees security and protection for all health workers, all perpetrators of the violence and vandalism are arrested and prosecuted, and the full restoration and repair of the Kitengela Sub-County Hospital is undertaken,” the unions said.

They further demanded a formal apology from the local administration and security agencies, a joint meeting within 72 hours with Ministries of Health, Labour, and security agencies, and assurances that such incidents will not be repeated.

According to the unions, if the matter is not addressed and similar attacks recur, they will withdraw health workers from affected areas without prior notice.

“It is the position of the unions that this constitutes a form of criminal aggression tantamount to war on health workers, and we shall not tolerate it. Health care workers are not combatants,” the statement noted.

“In future instances of nationwide demonstrations, we shall withdraw our healthcare services more particularly in the regions that are grossly affected so as to safeguard the security of our members until the government puts in place security and safety measures in all the healthcare facilities,” they added.