Duale to UHC medics: You're hired!
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale addresses the media at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Nairobi, on April 10, 2025.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden duale has announced that 7,414 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) medics will be hired on permanent and pensionable terms effective September 2025. However, of these, those with pending disciplinary issues will be left out.
He also revealed that the verification process had weeded out hundreds of ghost workers. From the initial list of 7,629 UHC staff seeking permanent terms, 215 did not present themselves and were subsequently identified as either ghost workers or unqualified.
"As you can see we have weeded out salonists and plumbers who were masquerading as health workers from the list," CS Duale said.
The Health Ministry has since removed them from the payroll pending further investigations to prosecute, determine and recover irregular payments.
The remaining workers have been divided into two groups: those currently in active service and those with pending disciplinary issues.
"Staff in active service will be formally transitioned and absorbed with effect from September 2025," said CS Duale.
"Such cases will be reviewed in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC). In line with PSC Regulations 2020 on Human Resources, which provides for separation, removal from payroll, and other disciplinary measures," he said.
UHC staff sceptical until they see letters
However, Desmond Wafula, chairperson of UHC representatives, says it's not the first time they've been promised absorption on permanent and pensionable terms.
"We have taken the announcement casually because the CS was clear when he was on TV recently that by August 1, 2025, UHC staff would be converted to permanent and pensionable. We haven't seen our terms changing," he said.
He added that UHC workers are planning another series of demonstrations from September 2.
"Maybe he has sent this circular to cool us down. Our comrades are prepared. We shall continue until we see the terms changing. Unless we see the offer letters, then maybe we will see that the CS has complied with the promise he made to us," he says.
Pandemic
UHC staff were hired to support other healthcare workers during the pandemic, filling a gap that saved the country's public health system from crumbling.
But six years since their deployment, their terms have remained unchanged despite calls to transition from contract to permanent and pensionable jobs.
In 2023, there was a promise to finally transition them, which remained unfulfilled. UHC workers then began industrial action with two demands: permanent positions and gratuity payment.
