By Kelly Were
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has announced a significant restructuring of the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, with all UHC staff set to be transferred to County Governments effective July 1, 2025.
The announcement follows consultative meetings between the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, healthcare worker unions, and UHC representatives held on April 14 and May 6, 2025.
In a press statement signed by Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, the Ministry outlined five major components of the transition:
- Staff Transfer: All UHC staff will be transferred to County Governments beginning July 1, 2025.
- Payroll Management: County Governments will take over the management of UHC staff payrolls and associated budgets from July 1.
- Contract Protection: Existing UHC staff contracts will remain valid until May 2026, as agreed between individual staff members and their respective County Governments.
- Path to Permanence: The transition of UHC staff to permanent and pensionable employment terms will be incorporated into the Financial Year 2026/27 budget upon contract expiry.
- Gratuity Arrangements: Gratuity payments for UHC staff will be processed when contracts expire, following guidance from the Public Service Commission.
The Ministry emphasized its commitment to collaborative solutions, acknowledging the “invaluable contributions of UHC staff in delivering essential health services across the country.”
The consultative meeting on May 6 included representatives from multiple healthcare worker unions, including:
- Seth Panyako, Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses
- George Gibore, Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers
- Mohamed Duba, Chair of the Kenya Health Professionals Society
- Brown Ashira, Secretary General of the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union
- Odipo Nicholas, National Chairman of the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers
- Kennedy Inyagu, Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians
- Asae Naempu, representing the Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists
The statement clarified the division of healthcare responsibilities under Kenya’s devolved system, noting that the Ministry will continue to focus on “national referral health facilities, health policy formulation, standard-setting, capacity building, and technical assistance to county governments,” while County Governments remain responsible for County Health Services as outlined in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Ministry has urged the Council of Governors to expedite the submission of verified UHC staff returns to facilitate the preparation of the May 2025 payroll.
“We will continue to foster collaborative solutions to uphold their welfare and ensure seamless healthcare service delivery for all Kenyans,” the statement concluded.
