The Council of Governors (CoG) has opposed a directive by the Ministry of Health to absorb 7,414 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff into the public service, terming the move premature and inconsistent with prior agreements between the two levels of government.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 26, CoG argued that the ministry’s announcement contradicted a negotiated framework on how to transition UHC staff from national to county governments. The council emphasized that proper procedures, resource allocation, and pending obligations must be addressed before the transfer can take effect.
“While acknowledging the ongoing collaboration between the two levels of government in addressing the management of UHC staff, the Council wishes to clarify that it does not concur with the Ministry of Health’s position,” the statement read.
CoG Health Committee Chair, Governor Muthomi Njuki, insisted that since the contracts of UHC staff remain valid, their transfer at this stage was “premature and untimely.” He added that counties could only absorb the workers once sufficient resources were allocated in line with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) salary scales.
Governors further raised concerns over unresolved issues, including the verification report on UHC staff, which they said had not yet been validated or shared with counties. Another sticking point is the payment of gratuity, with CoG urging the national government to first settle all gratuity owed to contract staff before handing them over to county administrations.
“The Council reiterates its earlier commitment to absorb verified UHC staff and facilitate their salaries in line with the approved SRC salary scales, once resources have been disbursed to the counties and gratuity obligations honoured,” Njuki said.
Despite rejecting the ministry’s plan, CoG reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Ministry of Health to resolve staffing matters, noting that both sides share the goal of strengthening health service delivery.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale had earlier announced that the absorption of 7,414 UHC staff would begin in September 2025 following a nationwide verification exercise. Out of 7,629 workers verified, 215 failed to present themselves and were flagged for review.
