Health Workers Want Healthcare Returned to National Government, Say Counties Have Failed Kenyans
By Gedion Nzyoki -
NAIROBI, Kenya, August 3, 2026 — Health workers have renewed calls for the transfer of healthcare services from county governments back to the national government, arguing that governors have failed to effectively manage the sector as a nationwide strike enters its third week.
Speaking during a joint press briefing on Monday, led by Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) National Chairperson Peterson Wachira, leaders of the Health Union Caucus accused county governments of negligence, inaction, and impunity, saying repeated attempts to engage governors over longstanding labour grievances had been ignored.
The unions said they first issued demand notices on June 2 before serving a 14-day strike notice on July 6 after receiving no response from county governments.
"And up to today, more than 60 days after, and almost 30 days after we gave the notice, the Council of Governors is yet to even formally invite us for any meaningful discussion," Wachira said.
Praise for Ministry of Health, criticism of counties
The unions commended the Ministry of Health, led by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, for addressing issues within its mandate, including facilitating July salaries for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers and converting their payroll status to permanent and pensionable (PNP).
However, they argued that the transition remains incomplete because county governments have failed to issue appointment letters required to formalise the workers' employment terms.
"So up to this day, we have no idea whatsoever as to why the counties have refused to do what they are supposed to do, irrespective of the fact that they have already been given KSh8.9 billion by Parliament to effect PNP status for both the UHC workers as well as the Global Fund staff who are deployed under the TB programme," Wachira added.
The unions warned that the failure to complete the process has left thousands of health workers in limbo despite Parliament allocating the necessary funds.
'Health has become too heavy for counties'
The Health Union Caucus argued that county governments have consistently demonstrated an inability to effectively manage healthcare since the introduction of devolution.
According to the unions, the national government recruited nearly 9,500 UHC workers in 2020 because counties lacked adequate staffing capacity. They added that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the national government was again forced to recruit additional healthcare workers before deploying them to county facilities.
"It is becoming evident by the day... that health has become a weight too heavy for the Council of Governors and the counties to bear," Wachira stated.
The officials said hospitals across the country remain severely affected by the strike, noting that while doctors are still working, nurses, clinical officers, laboratory officers, and public health officers have downed their tools.
"As we stand here, hospitals are closed across the country... facilities are not working," they said.
Call to return health services to the national government
Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) National Chairman Nicholas Odipo said the current crisis demonstrates that county governments can no longer effectively manage healthcare services.
"The weight of delivering quality healthcare services to the citizens of Kenya is too heavy for the county governments to bear. And I think it is time they come out and declare that they are not able to manage healthcare services," Odipo said.
"So that then the health services can be transferred back to the national government."
He argued that healthcare, like security and education, is too critical to continue suffering under what he described as poor management by county administrations.
"If you look around, 15 years after devolution, healthcare service delivery is on a downward trajectory because of mismanagement and the high-handedness of the governors," he added.
Governors accused of ignoring agreements
The unions accused governors of frustrating the implementation of agreements reached with the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors, particularly on absorbing UHC and Global Fund workers into permanent and pensionable terms.
Odipo dismissed claims by one governor that counties had the authority to negotiate career guidelines independently.
"The position of that ruling is that career guidelines are policy documents. CBAs are policy documents. And per Schedule Four of the Constitution, it is the function of the national government to enact policies on behalf of counties. The counties are supposed to implement those policies," he said.
"So Governor, stop politics. Let us face the reality."
The unions maintained that the strike would continue until all their demands are fully addressed.
"So the strike that we called three weeks ago shall continue until all our demands are met, and more so the absorption of UHC workers and Global Fund workers into permanent and pensionable terms. Because the money is there," Odipo declared.
UHC workers seek appointment letters and gratuity
Representatives of UHC workers acknowledged the Ministry of Health's efforts in confirming their payroll status but said three key issues remain unresolved.
"That is the appointment letter, which can confirm the whole process, the gratuity for the six years, and the job group letter, because these staff have been stagnating since 2020," one representative said.
The officials urged the government to retain the management of UHC staff under the national government, arguing that county governments have failed to effectively manage human resources in the health sector.
Strike to continue
The Health Union Caucus insisted members would not resume work until county governments issue permanent and pensionable appointment letters, pay outstanding gratuity for UHC and Global Fund workers, and implement pending Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), particularly for clinical officers.
"We are not going to go back to work as long as all our issues have not been addressed," the official said.
The unions also accused governors of ignoring the suffering of patients as public health facilities remain paralysed.
"It is very bad that today there are mothers who need to be attended to in our facilities. There are children who need immunisation, yet they are not getting those services... they are actually killing our people indirectly," the officials said.
They maintained that the industrial action would continue until county governments fully implement the agreed reforms and address all outstanding labour grievances.
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