Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale recently led a consultative meeting with the Council of Governors (CoG) and health sector unions to discuss the transition of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff employment terms. The focus was on converting these staff members from contract-based employment to permanent and pensionable status, as well as addressing the payment of service gratuity for their time served under contract.
The meeting, held on 6th May 2025, was a follow-up on previous strategic discussions involving key stakeholders. The primary agenda was to review progress on resolutions made after a series of consultations regarding the concerns raised by UHC staff on 1st April 2025. Hon. Duale, who presided over the session, emphasized the vital role that UHC staff have played in the successful implementation of the Taifa Care Model, which is a central component of the country’s UHC initiative.
Hon. Duale highlighted several key decisions made after extensive consultations, signaling the government’s commitment to ensuring that UHC staff are integrated into the health workforce with stable employment terms. Effective 1st July 2025, the Ministry of Health will transition the payroll management of UHC staff to the County Governments. Along with this transfer, the necessary budget to sustain the current stipend arrangements during the transition period will be provided to county governments.
In addition to payroll management, the counties will receive additional funding before the expiration of current contracts to facilitate the full absorption of UHC staff into permanent and pensionable positions. This transition will be critical in aligning the UHC workforce with the government’s broader health workforce strategy. Furthermore, the issue of service gratuity payments will be addressed once the absorption process is completed, ensuring that UHC staff members are fairly compensated for their service under contract.
Hon. Duale stressed that the transition of UHC staff to permanent terms is an essential part of strengthening the country’s health workforce, a key element in realizing the objectives of Universal Health Coverage under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The strengthening of the health workforce is viewed as crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable healthcare delivery, which remains at the heart of the UHC initiative.
Union leaders expressed optimism about the government’s commitment to resolving the employment issues faced by UHC staff. They commended the leadership of the Ministry of Health for the constructive discussions and the progress made in restoring public trust in Kenya’s health sector. The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), represented by its Secretary General Seth Panyako, along with other health unions, including the Kenya Union for Medical Laboratory Officers and the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, showed their support for the proposed changes.
The consultative meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Health, including the Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga and the Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth. Their participation underscored the importance of the discussions and the need for a collaborative approach to resolving the challenges faced by UHC staff. The meeting also saw contributions from union representatives like Nicholas Odipo and George Gibore, who represent medical laboratory officers and clinical officers, respectively.
The government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Kenya’s health sector and ensuring the successful rollout of UHC initiatives was reaffirmed during the meeting. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to a more stable, well-supported health workforce, which will be instrumental in achieving the country’s health goals. The successful absorption of UHC staff into permanent employment, coupled with the payment of service gratuity, will further solidify the foundations of Universal Health Coverage in Kenya.
