Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale has announced a landmark decision to transition Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff to permanent and pensionable terms, following a high-stakes consultative meeting with the Council of Governors (CoG) and leaders of key health sector unions.
The meeting, held to review progress on earlier resolutions, brought together CoG CEO Mary Mwiti, union representatives led by Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako, and senior Ministry of Health officials. Discussions focused on concerns raised by UHC staff on April 1, 2025, particularly regarding employment terms and delayed service gratuity payments.
In a major policy shift, CS Duale announced that effective July 1, 2025, the payroll management of UHC staff will be devolved to County Governments, along with the budgetary provisions required to maintain their current stipends during the transition period. The Ministry will also allocate additional funds before the expiry of current contracts to enable counties to fully absorb UHC staff into permanent and pensionable employment.
Additionally, CS Duale confirmed that service gratuity will be paid out at the conclusion of the transition process, a move expected to ease concerns among contract healthcare workers who have been uncertain about their long-term job security.
“The role of UHC staff is central to the successful implementation of the Taifa Care Model. Strengthening our health workforce is non-negotiable if we are to achieve equitable, quality healthcare under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” Duale said.
Union leaders, including Nicholas Odipo (Kenya Union of Medical Laboratory Officers) and George Gibore (Kenya Union of Clinical Officers), praised the Ministry’s responsiveness and reaffirmed their support for ongoing reforms.
Also present were Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga and Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, among other senior officials.
This development marks a significant stride in addressing long-standing workforce issues within the public health system, while laying a stronger foundation for the delivery of Universal Health Coverage across the country.
