The government will absorb more than 7,400 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff into the public service beginning September 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has confirmed.
The decision follows a nationwide verification exercise carried out by the State Department for Medical Services in partnership with the Council of Governors (COG). Of the 7,629 staff vetted, 215 failed to turn up for the process, with authorities classifying them as either unqualified health workers or ghost employees.
“Out of the 7,629 UHC staff verified, 215 failed to present themselves. These individuals have been identified as either ghost workers or unqualified health professionals,” said Duale. He added that their salaries have been stopped, and investigations are underway to recover any irregular payments.
Duale explained that the eligible staff will be divided into two categories, those already in active service and those facing disciplinary action.
“Staff in active service will be formally transitioned and absorbed with effect from September 2025,” he said, noting that those with disciplinary issues will only be considered once their cases are resolved in line with Public Service Commission (PSC) regulations.
He emphasised that unresolved cases could result in dismissal, removal from the payroll, or other disciplinary measures. “The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Council of Governors, PSC, and other stakeholders, remains committed to ensuring the absorption process is fair, accountable, and transparent,” he stated.
The CS added that the move underscores the government’s commitment to strengthen Kenya’s health workforce as a cornerstone of Universal Health Coverage, ensuring citizens across the country have access to quality healthcare.
The announcement comes months after UHC staff staged a nationwide strike over poor pay, delayed salaries, and lack of job security. The strike, which lasted several weeks, crippled services in some counties and exposed gaps in the government’s promise to deliver quality healthcare under UHC. Workers, many of whom were recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic, accused the government of abandoning frontline staff who had been central to Kenya’s emergency response.
UHC staff were initially engaged on short-term contracts between 2019 and 2020, with some linked to the 2018 pilot programme. Their transition into permanent public service roles is now viewed as a major milestone in safeguarding the future of frontline health workers and consolidating UHC as a key pillar of Kenya’s health system.
