Governor Muthomi Njuki raises alarm over Ksh7.8B UHC staff payroll gap
Tharaka Nithi Governor and Council of Governors Health Committee Chairperson Muthomi Njuki has warned that counties risk facing a nationwide strike by Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers due to a Ksh 7.8 billion payroll shortfall.
Speaking on a local TV station on Sunday, August 31, 2025, Njuki explained that 7,476 UHC staff require Ksh 7.8 billion every year to be absorbed permanently. He added that this figure does not take into account collective bargaining agreements and annual promotions, meaning the burden is even heavier than currently projected.
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“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 said.
He faulted the existing arrangement where counties host the workers while the Ministry of Health retains the payroll, describing it as unsustainable and a recipe for more conflict.
According to Njuki, the national government has set aside Ksh6.2 billion for the staff, of which about Ksh700 million has already been used to pay salaries for July and August. The remaining Ksh5.4 billion may keep the staff on the payroll for the next ten months, but beyond that, counties will require an additional injection of funds to sustain the workers.
Njuki also raised concerns about procurement delays in counties, noting that the suspension of procurement in the first quarter has crippled the purchase of medicines, fuel, and other essential supplies.
“It is impossible to run government for three months without fresh procurement,” he said, adding that relying on a yet-to-be-ready e-procurement system has worsened the situation.
While praising the resilience of UHC staff who have endured poor terms since the COVID-19 pandemic, Njuki highlighted the disparity in their pay. He said certificate holders earn about Ksh40,000 while diploma holders earn about Ksh50,000, nearly half of what other health workers with similar qualifications earn.
“If I were in charge of giving medals, I would give them to the UHC staff,” he remarked.
Deadlock
The warning comes at a time when the UHC sector is in turmoil. The Ministry of Health recently cleared 7,414 staff to join the government payroll beginning September 2025 after striking out over 200 ghost workers. However, all 47 counties have opposed the directive, saying they lack the funds to absorb the employees permanently.
UHC workers remain on strike, demanding permanent and pensionable terms, gratuity, and fair pay. They have also accused some governors, including Njuki, of deliberately blocking their absorption. Health unions have described Njuki’s recent remarks as insensitive and have called for his apology, with some pushing for his impeachment over alleged mismanagement.
At the heart of the standoff is a larger question of devolution and financing. Counties argue that health is a devolved function and they cannot be forced to shoulder staff salaries without sufficient resources. The Ministry of Health insists on reform, accountability, and payroll clean-up, while workers continue to demand job security and fairness.
