Kenyan Counties, Council of Governors Reject Health Ministry’s Plan to Absorb 7,414 UHC Staff Requiring 7.6 Billion Shillings

Kenyan county governors have rejected the Ministry of Health's directive to absorb 7,414 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) medical staff into county employment starting September 2025. The Council of Governors (CoG) stated that counties lack the financial capacity to pay these health workers, estimating a funding requirement of 7.6 billion Kenyan Shillings to implement the plan. CoG also criticized the transfer process proposed by the Ministry of Health, emphasizing that all gratuity payments for the staff must be settled before any transition occurs. Additionally, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) has demanded full autonomy over the Staff Health Allowance (SHA) systems, accusing the Ministry of Health of interference. The governors further accused Health Minister Aden Duale of breaching agreements related to the UHC staff transfer. This dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the national government and county administrations over the implementation of the UHC program.