What a shame! Ruto slams counties over unpaid community health promoters

President William Ruto arrives at the Coast General Teaching & Referral Hospital in Mombasa on Thursday, September 4, 2025. /PCS

President William Ruto has faulted county governments that have failed to pay community health promoters (CHPs), accusing them of neglecting their responsibility and undermining healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

CHPs serve as a critical link between communities and health facilities.

They provide health education, disease prevention, basic screenings, first aid, and referrals for serious conditions.

They also collect essential health data that supports public health initiatives and play a key role in campaigns such as immunization.

The workers are entitled to a monthly stipend jointly covered by the national and county governments, with each level of government paying half.

But according to Ruto, some counties have defaulted on their obligation, leaving CHPs to suffer.

“I know that sometimes there are challenges but there are some counties like Mombasa who are paying CHPs but there are other counties who are not paying CHPs. What a shame!” he said on Thursday at the Coast General Teaching & Referral Hospital in Mombasa.

The President stressed that CHPs have been instrumental in driving the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, particularly through their efforts in registering citizens under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

“The heroes of universal health, the men and women who have made it possible for us to register citizens in SHA, the people who have participated by going to every home and every village, in the morning in the evening, are the CHPs,” Ruto said.

“I have instructed the Ministry of Health to make sure that as we pay all the other workers, the CHPs must have their money,” he added.

Ruto praised Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, describing him as an example of visionary leadership.

He said Nassir’s commitment had enabled Mombasa to emerge first among all 47 counties in SHA registration.

“This is no small feat, but a testament to bold leadership and collective effort. We remain steadfast in working with counties to ensure that healthcare in Kenya is not a privilege for the few, but a guaranteed right for every citizen,” Ruto said.