Healthcare workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program countrywide on Tuesday demonstrated outside the Ministry of Health headquarters at Afya House in Nairobi.
While carrying the national flag and vuvuzelas, the workers marched towards Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s ministry offices and blocked the road to the gate, demanding an audience from the minister.
The healthcare workers have for months now complained about their employment terms, key among them being contract renewals, salary disparities, and transitioning of those with over five years of service to Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) terms.
The staff have been on strike since February, which has crippled the county-level hospital they are mostly stationed as nurses, clinical officers, public health officers, laboratory technicians, and community health assistants.
In March 2025, the workers marched to Parliament twice to petition the Senate for urgent intervention.
At the start of April, Duale pledged to address the long-standing concerns within the next three weeks.
The national government has since moved the UHC staff payroll to county governments from July 1.
Duale issued a statement urging the Council of Governors to expedite the submission of verified UHC staff returns to facilitate the preparation of the May 2025 payroll.
“We reaffirm our commitment to constructive engagement with stakeholders to uphold the integrity and sustainability of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya.”
He said the Ministry continues to focus on national referral health facilities, health policy formulation, standard-setting, capacity building, and technical assistance to county governments.
He said County Governments remain responsible for County Health Services, as outlined in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya.
A series of meetings have been held between the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, healthcare worker unions, and UHC representatives to deliberate on matters affecting UHC staff, he said.
Duale said UHC staff contracts, as agreed between individual staff and County Governments, will remain valid until May 2026, as per the signed agreements.
“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. Gratuity for UHC staff will be processed upon contract expiry, following guidance from the Public Service Commission,” he said.
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