Kihika Confirms 308 Health Workers On Permanent Terms In Major Staffing Boost

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Nakuru residents are expected to benefit from stronger health services after the county absorbed 308 healthcare workers into permanent employment and reaffirmed plans to expand staffing across facilities.

The permanent and pensionable employment will give health workers greater job security, access to structured career growth and pension benefits, while helping facilities retain institutional knowledge and reduce disruptions caused by staff turnover.

For patients, the reforms are expected to support more predictable services, better follow-up care, improved supervision and stronger accountability as the county works to expand access to quality healthcare in all sub-counties.

Today, Governor Susan Kihika handed over appointment letters to the workers, saying the move was part of her administration’s plan to improve staff welfare, strengthen service delivery and ensure residents receive timely healthcare closer to home.

The workers include nurses, clinical officers, nutritionists, dietitians, laboratory technologists and pharmacists who had previously served on contract and other non-permanent terms across county health facilities.

“By absorbing these 308 healthcare workers on permanent and pensionable terms, we are keeping our pledge to place staff welfare at the centre of quality, affordable and timely healthcare,” Governor Kihika said.

The county boss said the absorption is aimed at improving stability in hospitals and health centres by retaining skilled personnel whose services are critical to patient care, diagnostics, nutrition support, pharmacy services and clinical operations.

Kihika said healthcare workers remain central to the county’s wider health transformation agenda, noting that improved terms of service are expected to boost morale, accountability and continuity of care across facilities.

The Governor said her administration had so far promoted 1,367 healthcare workers and would recruit more staff this year as demand for services continues to rise across Nakuru’s public health system.

“A well-motivated health workforce is essential to efficient service delivery, and we will continue promoting, recruiting and supporting our teams so that patients receive better care closer home,” she said.

The move builds on Kihika’s earlier health pledges, which included confirming contract health workers to permanent and pensionable terms, ensuring timely promotions, supporting career progression and recruiting additional workers to reduce service delivery delays.

Her administration has also linked human resource reforms to ongoing investment in health infrastructure, including the expansion and upgrading of facilities, completion of stalled projects, improved maternal services and stronger primary healthcare systems.

County officials say the latest absorption will help improve deployment of key cadres across hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, maternity units and outpatient departments, where staff shortages often affect waiting times and service quality.

The Governor commended healthcare workers for their contribution to gains made in the sector, saying the county’s investment in personnel must translate into better patient experience and stronger public trust.

“I urge our health professionals to remain committed, focused and compassionate because every appointment letter issued today carries a responsibility to serve our people with dignity,” Kihika said.

The Governor said the county would continue investing in both infrastructure and the workforce, arguing that new buildings and equipment can only deliver results when supported by adequate, skilled and motivated staff.