Operations at LifeCare Hospital, one of the leading private hospitals in Eldoret, are paralysed after its medical workers downed their tools, accusing the facility’s management of systemic discrimination, unpaid statutory deductions and a deteriorating work environment.
The industrial action on Monday brought services at the prestigious private hospital to a standstill as striking employees alleged unfair treatment, intimidation and what they described as arbitrary salary structures that disregard job groups and academic qualifications.
The workers say the crisis has been building since January, when they began noticing delays and failures in remittance of key statutory deductions, including contributions to the Social Health Authority (SHA), the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb, among others.
They claim the situation has had a direct impact on their access to healthcare, saying that despite working in a medical facility, their insurance coverage has been rendered inactive due to the unpaid deductions.
“We are working at such a prestigious hospital, yet we cannot afford quality healthcare ourselves due to the non-remittance of our SHA deductions,” said Dr Amele Ndoli, the workers’ welfare chairperson, speaking outside the facility.
“Instead, when we fall sick, management shamelessly tells us to go seek treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital,” he added.
The workers also accused the hospital’s leadership of favouritism and heavy-handedness in human resource management, singling out the branch director, Mayanka Puri, whom they alleged presides over biased and unfair workplace decisions.
According to the striking staff, the internal crisis is affecting patient care, and the shortage of essential supplies has forced patients to purchase prescription drugs from external pharmacies.
“This sit-in is just a warning shot. If our grievances are not addressed within the next 48 hours, we are going to issue a formal strike notice in strict tandem with the Labour Relations Act. We will not be silenced,” Dr Ndoli warned.
In a swift response, the hospital management downplayed the industrial action, saying it was concerned by the disruption but insisting that staff had not followed proper internal grievance procedures.
Joshua Rop, Human Resource manager at Life Care Hospital in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, addresses the press at their boardroom on May 25, 2026, following workers' strike. He said the aggrieved workers are yet to make a formal complaint.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Addressing journalists at the hospital’s boardroom, Eldoret Branch Human Resource Manager Joshua Rop said the institution operates under structured policies and had not received formal written complaints from the aggrieved employees.
“As an institution, we operate on structured policies. We regret this unrest, primarily because management is yet to receive any formal written complaints from the aggrieved staff,” said Mr Rop.
He urged employees to return to work and present their concerns through established internal channels, adding that management remains open to engagement and would not tolerate intimidation or victimisation arising from the dispute.
“Employees should table their issues through the right channels. I want to assure them that their grievances will be addressed formally, and there will be absolutely no intimidation or victimisation emanating from this unrest,” he said.
LifeCare Hospital operates branches across several counties, including Bungoma, Migori, Eldoret, Meru, Kikuyu and Mlolongo.
