Inadequate funding to blame for healthcare crisis, unions say

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Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) National Chairman Peterson Wachira and Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General and CEO Davji Atellah during an interview at Spice FM, August 21,2026 [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

Kenya’s healthcare challenges are largely due to inadequate and delayed financing, health union officials have said.

Speaking during an interview on Spice FM on Friday, Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) National Chairman Peterson Wachira and Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General and CEO Davji Atellah warned that reforms will struggle to deliver better care without sufficient resources.

Wachira said nearly every aspect of healthcare is affected when facilities lack adequate and timely funding, and urged the government to prioritise healthcare financing, budgeting and implementation of existing reforms, particularly at the primary healthcare level.