UHC workers stage a protest as they present their demands to the Ministry of Health on their contracts renewal which expired in May and June outside Afya house, Nairobi on July 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI
Universal Health Coverage workers on Wednesday demonstrated at the Ministry of Health's headquarters, demanding permanent employment and payment of gratuity.
The workers, employed during the Covid-19 pandemic in counties including Siaya, Kiambu and Taita Taveta, say their contracts lapsed with no formal communication from authorities regarding their fate.
Despite the expiry of their agreements, they have been asked to remain on duty without clarity on their employment status.
UHC workers stage a protest as they present their demands to the Ministry of Health on their contracts renewal which expired in May and June outside Afya house, Nairobi on July 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI
The protesters presented a list of demands including absorption into permanent and pensionable terms, immediate payment of gratuity, remittance of National Social Security Fund deductions and immediate promotion and redesignation, while rejecting any further contract extensions.
“Some money has been allocated, but governors are silent, they don’t want to commit themselves on anything,” said Miriam Wacera, one of the demonstrators.
She raised questions about being left in the dark, adding: “Over the last six years people have been employed – some of whom we trained.”
UHC workers stage a protest as they present their demands to the Ministry of Health on their contracts renewal which expired in May and June outside Afya house, Nairobi on July 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI
The workers said they were trained to help patients in their counties, not to demonstrate on the streets.
Henry Adeka from Taita Taveta expressed frustration over “the same old story of demanding permanent and pensionable terms”, saying promises had been made but never materialised.
“The Minister of Health was here. He’s the one who told us he will sort out our issue in two weeks. Today, he had the guts to throw hands at us. We’re asking why they are treating us like children of a lesser god.”
As they held protests outside, the staff said their leadership was locked at the Ministry headquarters in discussion, but there was no word yet from officials on either side.
The workers have spent six years in limbo, marked by shifting contracts, unpaid gratuities and a bureaucratic tug-of-war between the national and county governments.
The protesters also demanded formal letters to implement President William Ruto’s directive that funds had been set aside for their absorption.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale had previously announced that UHC workers’ contracts would be converted to permanent and pensionable terms starting July 2026, in the 2026/2027 financial year.
A resolution was made during the 12th National and County Government Coordinating Summit on December 10, 2025, directing the Ministry of Health, the Public Service Commission, the Council of Governors and the National Treasury to develop a transition framework.
The government has confirmed about 7,000 genuine UHC workers and removed more than 200 ghost employees from the payroll.
However, workers say the Sh9.2 billion previously allocated by Parliament for their transition was diverted to other projects.
Unions have since issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice over delays by county governments in transitioning the workers, warning the Council of Governors against using the process as a political bargaining tool.
