The government has been given until June 30, 2026, to absorb all Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Fund staff into permanent and pensionable terms, or face industrial action.
Seven health caucus unions, including the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU), Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU) and the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), say the delay has left thousands of health workers in uncertainty as their contracts near expiry.
They noted that only two weeks remain before the expiry of UHC contracts, warning that affected workers are already experiencing anxiety, frustration and distress due to delays in issuing appointment letters.
“With only two weeks remaining before the expiry of the UHC contracts, healthcare workers are experiencing heightened anxiety and frustration, having waited for the issuance of P&P appointment letters, which to date have not been released. This uncertainty has caused immense distress among the affected workers and their families,” the unions said.
They further pointed out that Parliament approved Sh8.9 billion in the 2026/2027 Budget Estimates under conditional grants to cater for salaries of UHC staff for one year.
However, they argued that while the allocation is welcome, it does not provide a long-term solution to job insecurity affecting both UHC and Global Fund workers.
The unions are now demanding the immediate absorption of all UHC and Global Fund staff into permanent and pensionable terms, with issuance of appointment letters by June 30, 2026.
They also want Parliament to move the funding from conditional grants to the equitable share framework, saying the current arrangement is not sustainable and continues to expose workers to uncertainty under the Division of Revenue framework.
Additionally, the caucus wants to be directly involved in all discussions and processes related to the transition of UHC and Global Fund staff into permanent and pensionable terms. They warned that failure to meet these demands will trigger industrial action.
“Proceed to industrial action without further delay to demand full transition into P&P terms for all our UHC members as agreed by 1st of July 2026,” reads their statement.
They further warned of nationwide mobilisation, including protests at Parliament.
“We shall mobilise all their members to pitch camp at the national assembly and the Senate until the required resources have been allocated as an equitable share under the Division of Revenue at (DORA),” they said.
The caucus urged the National Assembly, the Senate, the National Treasury, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the Council of Governors (CoG) to urgently intervene and develop a lasting solution to the matter.
They also called on President William Ruto to step in and ensure the jobs of UHC and Global Fund workers are secured, linking the move to the success of the EWENE plan and UHC.
“Further, we urge President William Ruto to intervene and ensure that the jobs of UHC and Global Fund workers are secured, to ensure achievement of the EWENE plan and by extension UHC,” the Unions said.
Despite the hard stance, the Health Union Caucus said it remains open to constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to resolve the matter and strengthen Kenya’s health system.
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