Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said that the Ministry of Health does not have enough money to employ the Universal Health Coverage workers on permanent and pensionable terms.
They argued that their work under the UHC programme, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, warrants permanent status, especially given that they perform the same duties as their permanent counterparts.
The workers also cite low pay and lack of allowances as reasons for their
demand for improved terms.
Speaking in Garissa during
a cultural festival event,
Duale
urged the senators to allocate money for the workers so that he
could be able to pay them.
He was responding to concerns on the plight of UHC
workers raised by senators Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi) and Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga).
The CS also noted that currently, the only money
available was Sh3.5 billion, which could only hire the nurses on contract
terms.
“Budget budget-making process is a function of Parliament.
The money for the national and county governments is allocated by parliament
through the County Revenue Allocation Bill and the Division of Allocation Bill,” Duale said.
“The senators are saying that they want to increase
the allocation of counties to Sh450 billion. The money for UHC is there; if
you give me Sh4.2 billion, I will pay the UHC workers, if you don’t give me the
money; let them demonstrate at the senate and the national assembly,” he added.
Further, Duale revealed that starting in the next
financial year, the payroll for nurses and UHC workers who have signed
contracts with the county governments will be transferred to their respective
counties, noting that the governors are better placed to supervise their
performance.
“If you are a nurse and you have a contract with the
county government, you will be paid by that county government. Starting July 1,
I am going to transfer the whole payroll because if you are working for the
governor, he or she is the one who knows if you are delivering services or
not,” he said.
Apart from calling for the employment of UHC nurses
on permanent and pensionable terms, Senator Sifuna urged the governors to
forge a united front with the Senate in order to fight for the allocation of Sh450 billion to counties for the coming financial year.
“Sometimes we agree with governors to work in a
certain direction, but along the way, they abandon us. If we all agree that
the road works funds should come to counties, let us all stay firm on that. If
we say that we don’t want any county to lose money under the new allocation
formula, do not go and sign some agreements behind our backs,” Sifuna said.
Senator Osotsi on his part said that the senate will fight for counties by ensuring that they receive their allocation on time and that no county will lose money in the sharing formula.
