The
country’s health sector is staring at a critical Sh47 billion budget shortfall
threatening hiring of UHC workers, continuation of vital HIV services and
crucial vaccines.
The US has historically supported HIV programmes in the country.
According to submissions, the ministry faces a dual financial headache including Sh33.9 billion to sustain HIV and TB interventions in the face of freeze and a further Sh8.8 billion to hire 8,500 healthcare workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Meanwhile, the ministry needs an urgent Sh4.2 billion for procurement of HIV, family planning and vaccine commodities.
The money, according to Health Committee chairman James Nyikal (Seme) is counterpart fund under the GAVI and Unicef programmes.
“It is a counterpart funding and if we don’t get it , we will use more,” he told the budget team chaired by Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi.
The Seme lawmaker also vouched for the hiring of the striking UHC workers underscoring their role in ensuring universal healthcare across the 47 counties.
UHC workers have their contracts expiring in May next year and Treasury has provided Sh4 billion for stipends.
In the recent months, they have staged street protests demanding their terms to be converted into permanent and pensionable.
The state will then have to pay them Sh5 billion at the expiry of their contracts next year and a further Sh3.8 billion to convert them to permanent and pensionable.
Nyikal appealed to the Atandi team to consider allocating the Sh8.8 billion to end the incessant strikes by the health professionals.
“This is key, if we don’t sort out this problem, I am assuring you they will be on the road protesting,” the Seme MP said.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro highlighted the importance of having the UHC workers under permanent and pensionable basis, saying it is the only way to ensure Kenyans get adequate healthcare services.
“Sh3.8 billion is not much because it goes directly into service delivery and ensure employment to the country’s youths,” Nyoro said.
The UHC workers have been on a 96-day strike, demanding permanent employment, payment of outstanding gratuities, salary equalisation and allocation of their budget in the 2025-26 financial year.
They are also calling for payment of gratuities before their payroll is transferred to county governments on July 1, 2025.
Health CS Aden Duale last week announced plans to transfer their payrolls to counties from the national government effective July 1.
The Council of Governors has, however, insisted, it will not absorb the UHC workers into county payrolls, citing insufficient funding, discriminatory employment terms, and a lack of clarity from the national government.
CoG chairman Ahmed Abdullahi said counties would reject the transition unless their conditions are met, adding they have not officially received the UHC payroll and will not accept it unless it comes with sufficient funding to cover salaries.
