Kindiki, governors agree on health workers’ pay system amid strike

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and the Council of Governors have reached an agreement to jointly address the long-standing dispute over pay and employment terms for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers. The meeting took place during a Special Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) gathering at Kindiki's residence in Karen on August 31, 2026.

The agreement aims to resolve the deadlock that has persisted since 2017 regarding healthcare workers' salaries, delayed employment in county payrolls, and unresolved employment terms. Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi revealed that governors had proposed a deal to break the impasse and were awaiting the workers' response before discussing the matter with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

Kindiki emphasized the government's investments in frontline healthcare workers, with 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) deployed nationwide, with both national and county governments sharing responsibility for their stipends. The national government currently covers 50% of the CHP stipend, while county governments cover the remaining 50%.

The government also plans to replenish CHP kits within the next two months and provide all promoters with smartphones to enhance community healthcare delivery. Kindiki highlighted Kenya's progress in implementing the Universal Health Coverage program, Taifa Care, which has seen 32.3 million Kenyans enroll under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Additionally, the administration has deployed 25,000 medical interns and 262 medical registrars to bolster the healthcare workforce, along with the introduction of a toll-free emergency number, 922, which ensures free 24-hour stabilisation treatment for patients.