UHC Workers’ Absorption Into County Payrolls On Course, Duale Says

By Suleiman Mbatiah

The government has moved to calm uncertainty among Universal Health Coverage workers, saying their transition to county payrolls remains on course and will safeguard their welfare under harmonized terms of service.

In a July 6 statement, Health CS Aden Duale said the government was finalizing the absorption of UHC staff into county public service on permanent and pensionable terms, effective July 1, 2026.

The transition affects 7,414 UHC workers, most of them in county hospitals under contract, after President William Ruto said Sh8.9 billion had been set aside in the 2026/27 budget to support their absorption.

Duale said the government remained “fully committed to the seamless transition of UHC workers” from the national payroll to county government payrolls, while retaining permanent and pensionable terms of service.

The move follows the government’s decision to absorb the workers into the public service from July 1, 2026, in line with guidance from the Public Service Commission and other agencies.

The assurance comes after months of anxiety over contract continuity, delayed pay concerns and the transfer of payroll responsibility to counties, issues that had raised questions among workers and health unions.

In May, the Ministry said PSC had approved extension of UHC contracts to June 30, 2026, allowing payroll records and transition arrangements to be updated before county absorption could proceed.

Duale said the extension was intended to preserve continuity of service while administrative and financial arrangements were completed, reducing the risk of staffing gaps in public health facilities across counties.

The Ministry reported substantial progress through a Multi-Agency Committee established to oversee the transition, with funding reclassification identified as a key milestone in transferring payroll responsibilities to county governments countrywide.

The funding is being shifted from the County Governments Additional Allocation framework to the Division of Revenue Act, a move the Ministry says will support payroll implementation by counties smoothly.

Workers transitioning to permanent and pensionable terms will be paid according to “salary scales and allowances approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission,” Duale said, to promote equity across counties.

The Ministry said it was coordinating the process with the Council of Governors, county governments, PSC, National Treasury, Commission for Revenue Allocation and other stakeholders involved in staffing and financing.

According to the statement, the agencies are expected to ensure the transfer of staff and payroll is implemented smoothly, efficiently and without disruption to healthcare service delivery across public facilities.

That coordination is critical because UHC workers support frontline services in county hospitals and other public facilities, where staffing stability directly affects access to care, waiting times and patient outcomes.

Duale also recognised the workers’ contribution to healthcare services, citing their patience, dedication and professionalism during a prolonged transition marked by uncertainty over contracts, salaries and employer responsibilities across Kenya.

He urged the workers to remain at their stations, saying “no effort is being spared to conclude the remaining processes expeditiously,” while counties were asked to keep staff informed regularly.

The Ministry said county governments should continue engaging their UHC workforce as the transition progresses, a step meant to reduce speculation and maintain morale in public health facilities across counties.

Duale said the Ministry remained committed to delivering Universal Health Coverage while safeguarding the welfare of the health workforce through a fair, transparent and seamless transition process for workers and counties.