A political standoff has escalated over the fate of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) interns in Kenya. Tensions now pit the national government against county administrations.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has urged UHC health workers to ignore opposition from the Council of Governors. He wants them to prepare for permanent absorption into the national health system.
Clash Between National and County Governments
The dispute centres on plans to absorb more than 7,000 UHC staff into permanent service. County governments strongly oppose the move.
The Council of Governors argues the process bypasses agreed intergovernmental procedures. They say staffing, payroll responsibility, and funding must first be clarified.
Governors insist the national government must allocate adequate funds before any absorption. They also want alignment with Salaries and Remuneration Commission guidelines.
Concerns Over Process and Verification
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki says the Ministry of Health acted prematurely. He claims prior agreements were not fully respected.
He also questioned the verification exercise used to identify eligible staff. Counties say they did not receive a validated final report.
Njuki warned that lack of transparency could trigger administrative disputes. He stressed that counties must be fully involved in implementation decisions.
Growing Political Pressure on UHC Plan
The Ministry of Health plans to transition thousands of UHC workers into permanent roles. The move aims to stabilize staffing in the health sector.
However, counties fear increased wage burdens without proper funding support. They argue this could strain already limited budgets.
The standoff highlights deeper tensions in Kenya’s devolved health system. Resolution now depends on further negotiations between national and county leaders.
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