NAIROBI, Kenya – Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has assured governors of a better working relationship during his tenure, pledging more frequent consultations and collaboration with county governments.
This commitment follows a high-level consultative meeting between Duale and the governors, marking his first major engagement with county leaders since taking office.
Speaking to the media after the four-hour session at the Council of Governors (CoG), Duale acknowledged the gaps that have historically hindered effective communication and implementation of health policies between national and county governments.
He emphasized the need for swift action to strengthen bonds and synergy, with a particular focus on achieving the full implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which he admitted is still lagging behind.
“The realization that health is a devolved function means that we must work together seamlessly. There has been a significant gap in information sharing and implementing agreements in the past, and this must change,” said CS Duale. “We need a swift change to create synergy between the national and county governments, ensuring the full rollout of UHC and other critical health services.”
One of the key discussions during the meeting centered around the absorption of Universal Health Coverage staff who were employed during the COVID-19 era.
Governors, led by CoG Health Committee chairperson Muthomi Njuki, urged the national government to prioritize these workers’ absorption into permanent roles.
Njuki highlighted the ongoing protests by UHC staff due to poor pay and working conditions, pointing out the stark wage disparities between UHC workers and their colleagues employed after the UHC program’s inception.
“It is unfair that UHC staff are still struggling with low pay while those employed later are earning better salaries. We need to ensure that these workers are seconded to counties, but with proper resources and allocations as per the SRC rates,” said Governor Njuki.
In response to these concerns, the Council of Governors has resolved that all payments for Community Health Promoters (CHPs) should be channeled through county structures, eliminating the need for two separate payrolls—one managed by the National Government and the other by the counties.
Wajir Governor and CoG Chair Ahmed Abdulahi proposed a fresh headcount of CHPs to address the issue of “ghost” workers and ensure that only those actively engaged are compensated.
He also called for the expeditious release of resources related to UHC staff, emphasizing that these funds must be fully allocated before staff are seconded to county governments.
“Once UHC staff are seconded to counties, it is essential that budgetary provisions are made to cover their salaries and operational costs,” Governor Abdulahi added.
Further calls for stability in government leadership were made by CoG Vice-Chair Mutahi Kahiga, who urged President William Ruto to reduce the frequency of changes in government personnel to allow CS Duale to fully acclimatize to his new role and lead the ministry towards achieving UHC.
“We ask President Ruto to give CS Duale time to settle into his role and lead the drive towards achieving UHC. Consistency in leadership will allow us to focus on our goals and improve health service delivery,” said Governor Kahiga.
