Turkana county clears salary arrears owed to medics
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, March 3, 2026Turkana County Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has announced that the county has disbursed funds to clear pending salary and allowance arrears owed to medical practitioners working in county health facilities.
Speaking in Turkana on March 3, 2026, the governor said his administration had taken decisive steps to address the backlog, describing the move as part of broader efforts to stabilise the county’s health sector.
“We are going to release 58 million very soon. I think the document has been sent today, and any other deficit from many years ago will have to be budgeted in the next budget because there is a deficit of about 35 million that has been stalled for many months, for many years,” Lomorukai said.
The governor claims that the funds’ release is intended to boost the spirits of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who have continued to work in spite of payment delays. The arrears had accumulated over time, creating financial strain for medical staff and raising concerns about the sustainability of service delivery in the vast and largely remote county.
By settling the outstanding dues, the governor says the county government hopes to ease tensions and reaffirm its commitment to frontline health workers.
Turkana’s health sector has always had problems, like not having enough staff, not having enough infrastructure, and the high cost of providing services in large, hard-to-reach areas. Sometimes, late paychecks have made these problems worse, and health workers have warned that these kinds of problems lower morale and make services less effective. The governor’s announcement is an attempt to improve relations between the county government and doctors while making sure that patients can still get the care they need without any problems.
Lomorukai said that healthcare is still a top priority for his government and that paying salaries on time is very important for keeping skilled workers in public facilities. He expressed confidence that clearing the arrears would not only improve working conditions but also enhance efficiency and accountability within the sector.
The development comes amid wider scrutiny of county governments over financial management and service delivery.
Turkana County standoff with medics
Turkana County has had a long-standing conflict with medical professionals over late pay, unpaid allowances, and unresolved human resource issues.
The dispute had simmered for months, with healthcare workers accusing the county government of failing to honor payroll obligations despite repeated engagements.
At different times, doctors, clinical officers, nurses, and lab staff said they hadn’t been paid in a long time, which put a strain on their finances and lowered morale in all health facilities.
In 2024, things got worse when some health workers threatened to stop working and go on strike if their complaints weren’t taken care of. Some workers in Lodwar protested, asking for immediate payment of unpaid wages, confirmation of new officers, promotions, reassignments to the right job groups, and harmonisation.