By James Mutua
Health sector unions have issued a fresh ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate absorption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Fund healthcare workers into Permanent and Pensionable (P&P) terms, warning that failure to act could trigger nationwide industrial action from July 1, 2026.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the Health Union Caucus, bringing together the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU), the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) among others
expressed concern over delays in issuing appointment letters to UHC and Global Fund workers.
The unions said healthcare workers are facing heightened anxiety and uncertainty as the expiry date of UHC contracts approaches, with only two weeks remaining before the contracts lapse.
According to the caucus, affected workers have waited for years for confirmation into permanent employment despite repeated commitments by the government to address their status.
The unions acknowledged Parliament’s allocation of KSh 8.9 billion in the approved 2026/2027 Budget Estimates under conditional grants to support payment of UHC workers’ salaries for one year. However, they argued that the allocation falls short of providing a long-term solution to the employment challenges facing UHC and Global Fund staff.
“The continued reliance on annual conditional grants exposes healthcare workers to recurring uncertainty and job insecurity,” the caucus stated.
The unions are demanding the immediate absorption of all UHC and Global Fund workers into Permanent and Pensionable terms and the issuance of appointment letters by June 30, 2026.
They further called on Parliament to channel the allocated resources through the equitable share framework rather than annual conditional grants, saying this would provide a more sustainable mechanism for funding the workers’ salaries and securing their employment.
The caucus also demanded that health unions be actively involved in all discussions and negotiations concerning the transition of UHC and Global Fund workers into permanent employment.
Failure to meet these demands, the unions warned, will result in industrial action beginning July 1, 2026.
They further threatened to mobilize members from across the health sector to camp outside the National Assembly and Senate until sufficient resources are allocated through the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) framework to guarantee permanent employment for the affected workers.
The Health Union Caucus urged the National Assembly, Senate, National Treasury, Ministry of Health, and the Council of Governors to urgently address the matter and work collaboratively towards a lasting solution.
The unions also appealed to President William Samoei Ruto to intervene and ensure the jobs of UHC and Global Fund workers are secured, arguing that a stable health workforce is critical to the realization of the government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda and the broader health sector reform programme.
Despite the threat of industrial action, the caucus said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and engagement with all relevant stakeholders to facilitate the successful absorption of UHC and Global Fund workers while strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system for the benefit of all citizens.
