Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says the Ministry of Health does not have enough money to absorb the Universal Health Coverage workers into permanent and pensionable terms.

Responding to concerns on the plight of UHC workers raised by Senators Edwin Sifuna of Nairobi and his Vihiga counterpart Godfrey Osotsi during a cultural festival event in Garissa, Duale urged the senators to allocate money for the workers so that he could be able to pay them.

The CS noted that the only money available currently is Ksh3.5 billion, which could only hire the nurses on contract terms.

“Budget-making process is a function of Parliament. The money for the national and county governments is allocated by parliament through the County Revenue Allocation Bill and the Division of Allocation Bill,” Duale said.

“The senators are saying that they want to increase the allocation of counties to Ksh 450 billion. The money for UHC is there, if you give me 4.2 billion, I will pay the UHC workers. If you don’t give me the money, let them demonstrate at the senate and the national assembly,” he added.

Further, Duale revealed that starting in the next financial year, the payroll for nurses and UHC workers who have signed contracts with the county governments will be transferred to their respective counties, noting that the governors are better placed to supervise their performance.

“If you are a nurse and you have a contract with the county government, you will be paid by that county government. Starting July 1, I am going to transfer the whole payroll because if you are working for the governor, he or she is the one who knows if you are delivering services or not,” he said.