They were hired to help the country deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, thrust in the frontline in isolation wards to look after patients as the deadly disease ravaged the world.
Jobless, they signed up Sh50, 000-a-month contracts, with a promise of absorption into public service but five years later, they have endured empty promises, going for months without pay – the little that is left after statutory deductions, including PAYE, SHA and Housing Levy.
UHC medics kick off their night vigil outside Afya House
Because of living a life of penury, some have committed suicide, others driven to depression, and the rest of the 8,571 medics forced to take to the streets as they are tossed between counties and national government in their quest for employment.
Universal Health coverage (UHC) medics protesting on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi on May 20,2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
They are bitter that counties continue to employ medics while overlooking them - and cannot understand why the government cannot raise on average Sh75, 000 for each to hire them, yet the budget has billions in luxury items.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said the ministry does not have Sh4.2 billion to address the five-year standoff over 8,571 healthcare workers deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“I have no money to pay UHC medics because what is needed is Sh4.2 billion to sort out the permanent and pensionable issue. There is also the matter of gratuity, which, according to records, had accumulated to Sh4.8 billion, which comes to a combined total of Sh9 billion," he explained.
Universal Health Care workers protest, demand permanent and pensionable terms, gratuityNew Content Item (2)
He said he has engaged MPs to resolve the prolonged dispute between the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors regarding the absorption of these frontline workers.
"The country is now operating on a very lean fiscal space as you may know," Mr Duale said.
Mr Duale’s sentiments come after CoG chair, who is also Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, told off the Health CS over plans to send the payroll for the UHC medics to counties.
Universal Health coverage (UHC) workers protesting on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi on May 20,2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
“This arrangement is not acceptable to us, CS Duale is just transferring problems to us which we are not able to deal with. You as the health ministry caused the problem; deal with it until you ensure a seamless arrangement to the contractual end,” he started off.
“The genesis of the problem is that the national government continues to disrespect the constitutional provisions for implementation of the policies that they want undertaken by the counties,” Governor Abdullahi highlighted while noting that they will not accept the payrolls without adequate resources to sort out PnPs and gratuity for the protesting medics.
In 2020, at the height of the coronavirus, the government deployed the UHC medics to all 47 counties when the country faced a dire need for a health workforce to address the severe shortage during the pandemic.
With time, the number of Covid-19 cases decreased.
As healthcare workers under the UHC programme, they hoped that the government would reassess their service terms as a gesture of appreciation post-pandemic.
Police lob tear gas to disperse Universal Health Coverage workers protesting in Nairobi
“We were mindful of the challenging economic circumstances brought about by the pandemic at the time of deployment; hence, we prioritized putting lives first. Nevertheless, we selflessly offered our services as patriotic citizens but little did we anticipate the ensuing struggles, culminating in protests and urging the government to honour its promises,” Desmond Wafula, UHC National chair told Nation on Tuesday . He recalled that last year, an agreement was signed for their hiring on permanent and pensionable terms.
“While in service on contract terms, we have been receiving half pay salary with no allowances or salary increments and subject to all deductions that may arise, it is shocking that county governments have been continuously advertising various health positions, excluding staff under the UHC program. The county governments seem to prefer newly graduated health workers over experienced individuals who have been working under the program,” he noted.
Universal Health coverage (UHC) medics protesting on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi on May 20,2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
Currently, there is confusion regarding the extension contracts signed by the UHC staff, as they state a three-year extension, while the Government Human Resource Information System (GHRIS) portal indicates only a one-year extension, which will elapse starting April 2024,” Mr Wafula pointed out.
Universal Health Care workers resume protests outside MoH headquarters
“When I came to Afya House I found a mess which I am trying to clean up, this is an issue that was a major headache my three past predecessors but I can assure you I will find a tangible solution which will only come once parliament makes available the Sh4.2 billion I need,” Mr Duale told Nation.
