UHC staff to be transferred to counties by July 1, 2025 — Ministry of Health
Following consultations with key stakeholders, including healthcare worker unions and the Council of Governors, the Ministry revealed that agreements had been reached to ensure the smooth transition.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that all Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff will officially be transferred to County Governments by July 1, 2025, with counties taking over the responsibility for managing the staff's payrolls and budgets.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health emphasised its commitment to UHC and acknowledged the pivotal role healthcare unions play in advocating for workers' rights and enhancing service delivery in the health sector.
More To Read
- Nurses reject payroll shift to counties, vow to strike until pay and job demands met
- Explainer: Who are the striking UHC workers, and why are they protesting?
- UHC staff ordered to resume work as payroll shifts to counties in July
- Oluga calls for urgent reforms in blood services to avert crisis, boost UHC goals
- MPs, state officials could be forced to use public hospitals under proposed healthcare reforms
- UHC workers protest in Nairobi over unmet promises, harassment
Following consultations with key stakeholders, including healthcare worker unions and the Council of Governors, the Ministry revealed that agreements had been reached to ensure the smooth transition.
The Ministry noted that a key meeting was held on April 14, 2025, co-chaired by the Chair of the Council of Governors, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, which set the stage for this transition. On May 6, 2025, another consultative meeting was held with healthcare unions, where the specifics of the staff transfer were discussed in detail.
“We reaffirm our commitment to constructive engagement with stakeholders to uphold the integrity and sustainability of UHC in Kenya,” said Health CS Aden Duale.
The Ministry further clarified that the contracts of UHC staff would remain valid until May 2026, based on agreements made between individual staff and County Governments.
The staff will also be transitioned to permanent and pensionable terms by the end of the Financial Year 2026/27, in line with government plans.
“The transition of UHC staff to permanent and pensionable terms of employment will be incorporated into the Financial Year 2026/27 budget upon contract expiry,” Duale stated.
Gratuity payments for UHC staff will be processed upon the expiry of their contracts, with guidance from the Public Service Commission.
"We urge the Council of Governors to fast-track the submission of verified UHC staff returns to facilitate the preparation of the May 2025 payroll," said the Ministry of Health.
On Tuesday, hundreds of UHC workers staged a peaceful protest in Nairobi, calling for the government to address their grievances before the planned payroll transfer.
The workers, united under the Kenya Health Sector Caucus, gathered outside Afya House, the Ministry of Health headquarters, demanding the immediate payment of outstanding gratuities and the equalisation of salaries.
According to UHC workers, they have endured years of unfulfilled promises since their recruitment in May 2020, particularly regarding their absorption into the Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) scheme.
Top Stories Today
