Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union

Also known as: KEHPHPU

Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union — public health workers' union advocating for preventive health systems, permanent employment for UHC staff, and inclusion in health decisions.

2026-05-062026-09-04

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

May 2026
14 MayThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeThe Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU) has condemned the brutal killing of a public health practitioner in Bungoma County. …
KEHPHPU condemns brutal killing of public health officer in Bungoma county
13 MayThe Standard
… Brown Ashira, the Secretary General of the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU) said that the essence of having a Universal Health Cover was to cater for all Kenyans, but this was not happening.“The essence of the insurance was to reduce the …
SHA owes health facilities more than Sh77 billion, official says
6 MayThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeThe Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU) has warned that the country’s public health sector could collapse due to an acute shortage of staff. …
The health workforce crisis

Society

Busia health officers demand role in liquor licensing decisions

The News

Public health officers in Busia County are calling for greater involvement in liquor licensing to help combat illicit and potentially dangerous alcoholic drinks. The Busia County Government has signed a recognition agreement with the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union, creating a formal framework for engagement between the union and county administration.

3 September 2026 · The Standard →

Yesterday

Busia health officers demand role in liquor licensing decisions
Public health officers in Busia County are calling for greater involvement in liquor licensing to help combat illicit and potentially dangerous alcoholic drinks. The Busia County Government has signed a recognition agreement with the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union, creating a formal framework for engagement between the union and county administration.
3 September 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 5 August

School food poisoning outbreaks persist despite treatment focus
Kenya's public health officers warn that repeated school food poisoning and disease outbreaks affecting hundreds of learners are preventable, but the country continues to focus on treating sick pupils rather than preventing outbreaks in the first place. The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union attributes these incidents to a weakening preventive health system.
5 August 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 4 August

Union calls for health function return to national government
Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU) has called for the health function to be returned to the national government, blaming county governments for repeatedly failing to implement Collective Bargaining Agreements and citing this as a driver of recurring health workers' strikes. The union argues the devolved health system is not working and needs to be reviewed, citing unresolved labour issues including the situation of Universal Health Coverage workers who have remained on contract for more than six years.
4 August 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 20 July

Health workers begin nationwide strike over welfare demands
The Health Union Caucus has commenced a nationwide strike over unresolved grievances including workers' welfare, job security and terms of employment, saying the Council of Governors has failed to respond to demands submitted on June 15.
20 July 2026 · Capital News →

Wednesday 15 July

Health workers threaten nationwide strike over UHC staff confirmation
Health unions have threatened a nationwide strike starting Monday if the Council of Governors does not confirm Universal Health Coverage staff to permanent and pensionable employment. Parliament has allocated funds for the transition, but county governments have delayed the process, leaving thousands of health workers uncertain about their jobs and benefits.
15 July 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 14 July

Health workers announce nationwide strike from July 20
The Health Union Caucus announced a nationwide strike beginning at midnight on July 20, 2026, citing the Council of Governors' failure to address grievances over workers' welfare, job security, and terms of employment after demands were submitted on June 15.
14 July 2026 · Capital News →

Wednesday 8 July

Kakamega health unions threaten strike over stalled recognition agreement
Five health workers' unions have issued Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa a three-day ultimatum to resolve a dispute over a Recognition Agreement, threatening to withdraw services after a scheduled signing ceremony on Tuesday was derailed when the County Attorney and her legal team failed to attend.
8 July 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 12 June

Health workers condemn Kakamega governor's UHC absorption remarks
The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union has condemned Kakamega Governor Fernandes Baraza's recent remarks that governors lack funds to absorb UHC healthcare workers into permanent terms by July 1, calling his statements "unfortunate, unwarranted, and reckless." The dispute centers on a government promise to transition active UHC contract workers to permanent positions.
12 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 9 June

Ministry excludes health experts from school inspection tours
The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union has raised concerns that the Ministry of Education is conducting inspection tours of boarding schools without involving trained health experts to assess health standards and safety risks, urging the Education Cabinet Secretary to include public health officers in the exercise.
9 June 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 31 May

Union calls for public health officers in all schools
The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union has called for the immediate deployment of public health officers to all schools following a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil that killed 16 students and hospitalised 74 others.
31 May 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 14 May

KEHPHPU condemns murder of public health officer in Bungoma
The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU) has condemned the killing of Pascal Wakafura, a 38-year-old senior Public Health Officer in Bungoma County, who was ambushed at his home on the evening of Monday, May 11, 2026. The union has called for justice and enhanced security for civil servants, describing the incident as an attack on the entire public health workforce.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 13 May

SHA owes health facilities more than Sh77 billion, RUPHA chairman says
The Social Health Authority owes health facilities some Sh77 billion as of last year and continues to accumulate debt, according to Brian Lishenga, Chairman of the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association. The official attributed the challenges to insufficient resource pooling into SHA to settle medical claims, while union leaders condemned the government for promoting SHA registration without addressing system failures affecting healthcare delivery.
13 May 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 6 May

Public health sector faces acute workforce shortage crisis
The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union warned that the country's public health sector could collapse due to staff shortages, noting that no public health officers have been recruited in over 15 years and government resources have favoured curative services over public health.
6 May 2026 · The Standard →