The Ministry of Health has officially announced that the payroll management for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff will be transferred to county governments starting July 1, 2025.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, following a high-level consultative meeting between the ministry, the Council of Governors (CoG), and leaders of key health workers’ unions. These included representatives from the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers, and the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union.
The meeting was chaired by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and aimed at resolving payroll uncertainties for UHC staff deployed across counties.
Counties to Fully Absorb UHC Staff
According to a joint statement by Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga and CoG CEO Mary Mwiti, the transition will come with an attendant budget to support stipend payments during the interim phase.
“The Ministry of Health shall transfer the management of UHC staff payroll to counties effective 1st July, 2025 with an interim budget for payment of stipend under the current terms,” read the statement.
Additionally, county governments will receive extra funding before the expiry of current UHC contracts to enable full absorption of these health workers into permanent and pensionable terms of service.
Gratuity and Return to Duty
The ministry noted that gratuity payments will be considered after the absorption process is concluded. All UHC staff who have been off-duty are directed to report back to work by May 7, 2025.
This development marks a major shift in Kenya’s health sector, ensuring devolution works more efficiently in line with constitutional mandates. Health workers and county officials have long decried the national government’s retention of county-level functions.
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Health CS Aden Duale during a meeting with union leaders and governors on UHC payroll transition
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