Nairobi: Health CS Aden Duale has reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening human resources for health as a cornerstone of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and delivering quality health services to all Kenyans. Following the recently concluded joint headcount exercise undertaken by the State Department for Medical Services in collaboration with the Council of Governors (CoG), Duale announced that the verification of UHC staff is now substantially complete.
According to Kenya News Agency, out of the 7,629 staff verified, 215 did not present themselves and consequently have been identified as either non-existent (ghost workers) or not qualified health professionals. "Therefore, their salaries have been stopped and they have been removed from the payroll pending further investigations to prosecute, determine and recover the irregular payment," stated the CS in a press statement.
Similarly, he disclosed that the remaining 7,414 staff will be categorized into two groups: those currently in active service and those with pending disciplinary issues with the former being formally transitioned and absorbed as of September 2025. "UHC staff members absent from duty or having disciplinary issues will not be absorbed," clarified Duale, noting that such cases will be reviewed in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC), in line with the PSC Regulations 2020 on Human Resource which provides for separation, removal from the payroll, and other disciplinary measures.
Nevertheless, the CS maintained that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with CoG, PSC, and other stakeholders, remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure fairness, accountability, and transparency in the absorption process while safeguarding the rights of eligible officers. He reiterated that this process underscores the unwavering commitment to reforms in the health sector, efficient management of public resources, and realization of the government's pledge to achieve Universal Health Coverage for all Kenyans.