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Council of Governors meets to resolve UHC staff standoff
01st September, 2025 01:00 PM
The Council of Governors has convened a meeting to discuss the Universal Health Coverage staff standoffs with the national government over the fate of more than 7,400 UHC workers and the rollout of the Treasury’s electronic procurement system, which has stalled county budgets.
The meeting was held in Nairobi on Monday, September 1, 2025, and chaired by the Chairperson of the Council of Governors, Ahmed Abdullahi.
Also in attendance is Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, among other county bosses.
“Extra-Ordinary Council meeting chaired by Ahmed Abdullahi,” the Council of Governors noted.
Worth noting, the county bosses have argued that directives from the Health Ministry and Treasury are unilateral, financially unsustainable, and disruptive to service delivery in health and other devolved sectors.
This follows an invitation by the Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, in a notice dated August 28, which invited all governors to the extraordinary meeting to deliberate on the twin issues.
“The proposed agenda of the extraordinary council meeting is to deliberate on the following critical issues affecting service delivery to counties: management of human resources in the health sector and national government directive on the implementation of e-procurement,” Ahmed informed his colleagues.
CoG Health chairperson’s demands
The meeting follows remarks by the Council of Governors (CoG) Health Chairperson, Muthomi Njuki made remarks on Sunday, August 31, during an interview with a local media house, stating that there was no necessity to have a pseudo arrangement where the workers are with the county governments, but the payroll is with the ministry
“There was no necessity to have a pseudo arrangement where the workers are with the county governments, but the payroll is with the ministry,” Njuki added.
According to the Council of Governors (CoG) Health Chairperson, who is also the Tharaka Nithi Governor, Muthomi Njuki, 7,476 UHC staff would require 7.8 billion every financial year, without taking into consideration the CBA and also other yearly promotions.
“7,476 UHC staff would require 7.8 billion every financial year, without taking into consideration the CBA and also other yearly promotions,” Njuki said.
In addition, the Council of Governors (CoG) Health Chairperson further revealed that without the 7.8 billion that is supposed to be given to counties to absorb the UHC staff, the Counties will be forced to transfer the strikes from MoH to the 47 county headquarters.
“Without the 7.8 billion that is supposed to be given to counties to absorb these staff, it only means that we will transfer the strikes from MoH to the 47 county headquarters,” Njuki revealed.
He further added, “There was no necessity to have a pseudo arrangement where the workers are with the county governments, but the payroll is with the ministry.”
