Kenya’s ambitious Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program is facing a critical setback after the Council of Governors (CoG) rejected the planned transfer of more than 20,000 UHC staff to county governments, citing major concerns over funding, job terms, and a lack of coordination from the national government.
Speaking at a press conference, CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi announced that counties would not proceed with the July 1 takeover unless the national government meets key conditions. “We will not accept the transition without clarity on staff placement, equal terms of service, and—most critically—adequate funding to sustain the workforce,” he said.
The governors claim that the national government has yet to officially hand over the UHC payroll, nor has it provided the necessary budget to support the new cadre of health workers.
With just weeks remaining before the transition deadline, the impasse has cast a shadow over the future of essential health services and the stability of over 20,000 health workers whose roles are now uncertain.In the same session, governors also took issue with the Division of Revenue Bill 2025, which proposes an equitable share allocation of Ksh 405 billion to counties.
The council insists this falls significantly short of their recommended figure of Ksh 536 billion, warning that the proposed amount is insufficient to support devolved functions, including healthcare.”The current allocation ignores critical non-discretionary costs and the burden of newly devolved responsibilities,” said Abdullahi. “This violates the constitutional principle that resources must follow functions.”
County leaders are now calling for an urgent meeting with the National Treasury, warning that chronic underfunding threatens the very foundation of devolution.
Currently, county governments are owed Ksh 74.98 billion in delayed disbursements, further compounding their financial woes.Unless urgent action is taken, the standoff risks derailing one of President William Ruto’s flagship programs and jeopardizing healthcare delivery for millions of Kenyans across the country.
