The government has confirmed that all Universal Health Coverage staff will move to permanent and pensionable employment starting July 2026, ending years of uncertainty over contracts and pay.
The announcement comes after health workers repeatedly demanded that the promises made during the Covid-19 pandemic be honoured, including payment of gratuities and a clear plan for permanent absorption.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the Ministry of Health is already implementing the process under Cabinet-approved guidelines, with financing provided through the Division of Revenue Bill.
The staff have long opposed short-term renewals and have called for immediate action to secure their benefits, which include gratuities equal to 30 per cent of their basic salary since 2020.
The development follows a meeting of UHC personnel at Afya House on Tuesday, where workers pressed authorities to fulfil long-standing commitments. For six years, UHC employees have faced repeated contract adjustments, delayed payments, and disputes over responsibilities between the national and county governments.
“The national government has already moved UHC workers from low pay to terms approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission following a Cabinet decision,” Duale said.
He noted that during the 12th National and County Government Coordinating Summit on December 10, 2025, chaired by President William Ruto, leaders agreed that the Ministry of Health, Public Service Commission, Council of Governors, and National Treasury would establish a framework to transition UHC staff to permanent, pensionable terms. Resources for the plan will be drawn from counties’ equitable share through the Division of Revenue Bill.
Duale added that on January 19, the Ministry and the Council of Governors formally requested Sh8.9 billion from the Commission on Revenue Allocation to support the transition.
“In the coming weeks, we will hold inter-agency meetings involving the National Treasury, Public Service Commission, Commission on Revenue Allocation, and the Controller of Budget to finalise this process,” he said.
Verification exercises have confirmed around 7,000 legitimate UHC staff while removing more than 200 ghost employees from the payroll. Some irregularities were linked to hires during the Covid-19 period, when unqualified individuals were brought in but later failed verification.
“Genuine UHC workers remain deployed in health facilities across the country and play a critical role in service delivery, particularly in remote areas. Once they are transitioned to permanent and pensionable terms, their gratuity will be channelled into pension schemes,” Duale added.
UHC employees, widely recognized for their work during the 2020 pandemic, have frequently staged protests over delayed payments and unstable contracts. Their employment has shifted from initial three-year terms in 2020 to one-year extensions and later two-year renewals, with the first batch of current contracts set to end in May 2026.
UHC representative Elias Mutai urged authorities to honour all commitments, warning that protests affect patient care.
“Every time we protest, we leave more than 1,500 patients at risk,” he said.
