Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has responded to the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) secretary general Seth Panyako, who has hinted at an imminent nationwide strike if the government fails to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the absorption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff into permanent and pensionable terms.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Duale said the national government is focused on national referral health facilities, health policy formulation, standard-setting, capacity building, and technical assistance to county governments.

On the other hand, Duale says county governments are responsible for County Health Services, which include the UHC staff as from July 1, 2025.

“As part of ongoing consultations, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Council of Governors, convened key engagements, including a meeting on 14th April 2025, co-chaired by the Chair of the Council of Governors, H.E. Governor Ahmed Abdullahi. Further to this, on 6th May 2025, a consultative meeting was held between the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, healthcare worker unions, and UHC representatives to deliberate on matters affecting UHC staff,” Duale stated.

“Following these engagements, the Ministry wishes to inform Kenyans, healthcare worker unions, and stakeholders of the agreements reached: Effective 1st July 2025, UHC staff will be transferred to county governments, by 1st July 2025, the management of UHC staff payrolls and associated budgets will be transferred to county governments and UHC staff contracts, as agreed between individual staff and County Governments, will remain valid until May 2026, as per the signed agreements.”

Duale says the transition of UHC staff to permanent and pensionable terms of employment will be incorporated into the Financial Year 2026/27 budget upon contract expiry.

He also revealed that gratuity for UHC staff will be processed upon contract expiry, following guidance from the Public Service Commission.

“The Ministry urges the Council of Governors to expedite the submission of verified UHC staff returns to facilitate the preparation of the May 2025 payroll.
The Ministry of Health remains committed to the success of Universal Health Coverage and acknowledges the invaluable contributions of UHC staff in delivering essential health services across the country. We will continue to foster collaborative solutions to uphold their welfare and ensure seamless healthcare service delivery for all Kenyans,” he added.

On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Panyako expressed frustration with the government, accusing it of sidelining the nursing profession despite nurses playing a critical role in the health sector.

Panyako further urged President William Ruto to take decisive action and reallocate funds from the State House budget to address the nurses’ grievances.

 He claimed that only Ksh3.5 billion is needed to resolve the matter and ensure UHC staff are absorbed on permanent terms.

“If the President truly cares about this country, let him cut Ksh3.5 billion from the State House budget and use it to absorb the UHC staff. That’s all we are asking. Let these nurses be given permanent and pensionable terms like all other government workers,” he stated.

Panyako also decried the failure to implement the 2017 CBA, saying nurses have continued to work under difficult conditions with no clear commitment from the government to improve their welfare.