Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti has called on the national government to devolve the Universal Healthcare (UHC) allocation.

Speaking on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Machakos, the governor stated that the county is unable to absorb the UHC staff without funds.

“If you want to devolve, devolve them (UHC staff) with money. You cannot tell us their contracts are ending next March 2026 to absorb them without money. We are already in problems,” she stated.

However, Ndeti stated that she will fight for the concerns of the UHC employees within her county because of their dedication to service delivery.

“They worked even when the doctors were on strike. I will fight for them so that they get their money. I am ready to pay them with my money,” she declared.

UHC employees

This comes a few weeks after the Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale announced that the transfer of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) payroll to counties is non-negotiable.

Speaking on May 14, 2025, during the flagging off of Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) at Afya House, Nairobi, the CS stated that the UHC is a devolved function according to the constitution.

“I want to make it categorically clear to my colleagues and friends, the UHC staff. We can talk about other things, but the transfer of UHC payroll to the counties. It is not negotiable. It is the law; it is the constitution,” he stated.

The CS ordered the Council of Governors (COG) to give the ministry the list of all UHC staff in the 47 counties before the resources are released.

“I want to ask the representative of the council of governors here; we expect you to give us the UHC staff in the 47 counties,” Duale stated

Further, he asked the Ministry of Health to audit the names of the staff after they are submitted to ascertain the employees nationwide.

 “I am going to ask for an audit from the Ministry of Health of who the staff of UHC are before we release you. Give us the names and the persons of UHC staff in every county,” he stated.

Duale directed the Medical Services PS, Ouma Oluga, to release the UHC resources to the 47 counties on July 1, 2025, to bring order to the Ministry of Health.

“I am asking the PS medical services, come July 1, 2025, please transfer the resources in Afya House, the payroll, allowances and stipends to the 47 counties,” he added.

This comes after Duale and the Universal Health Coverage staff clashed over the payment of gratuity.

Duale said the decision is part of an agreement reached during a meeting between the ministry, the Council of Governors, UHC workers’ representatives and healthcare workers’ unions.