By Deborah Cheloti

Kenya's Ministry of Health has assured Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers that they will transition smoothly from the national payroll to county government payrolls on permanent and pensionable terms, saying the process remains on course despite ongoing administrative arrangements.

In a statement issued to newsrooms, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the transition would take effect from July 1, 2026, as part of the government's plan to transfer UHC staff to county governments.

To ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, the ministry said the contracts of UHC workers had been extended through June 30, 2026, while the remaining administrative and financial processes were being finalized.

"The Ministry is pleased to report that substantial progress has been made through the Multi-Agency Committee established to oversee the transition," Duale said.

The ministry said one of the key milestones had been the ongoing reclassification of funding from the County Governments Additional Allocation framework to the Division of Revenue Act, a move expected to facilitate the transfer of payroll responsibilities to county governments.

It also said all transitioning workers would be paid according to salary scales and allowances approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to ensure harmonized and equitable terms of service across the country.

The ministry said it was working closely with the Council of Governors, county governments, the Public Service Commission, the National Treasury, the Commission for Revenue Allocation and other stakeholders to ensure the transition is completed without disrupting healthcare service delivery.

Duale urged UHC workers to continue providing services at their duty stations as the ministry finalizes the transition process and continues engaging county governments on the implementation.