Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has remained firm on the transfer of the staff payroll for workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 

In a communique on May 6, 2025, the Ministry of Health directed the payroll of UHC staff to be moved effective July 1, 2025. 

The move was reached after a meeting between MoH, county governments and representatives from health unions. 

As a result, county governments would be provided with additional funds for full absorption of UHC staffs on permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms before the expiry of their contracts. 

The changes received opposition from UHC workers, who on Tuesday staged a protest to MoH headquarters in Afya House. 

However, Duale has vowed to remain unmoved even as health workers pile pressure on him. 

The Health CS argued that health is a devolved function according to Schedule 4 of the Kenyan Constitution.

Speaking at the World Bank Cold Chain Equipment Flag Off Ceremony on Wednesday, Duale emphasized that the move is not negotiable despite resistance from UHC staff.

"Resources follow function. The UHC staff have a contract with the 47 counties. They don't have a contract with the Ministry of Health," Duale stated.

The Cabinet Secretary instructed that the payroll and all the stipends and allowances be moved to the county administration ahead of the July 1 deadline. 

He further called for a comprehensive audit of UHC personnel across all counties to bring order to the Ministry of Health.

Duale expressed frustration with previous leadership, who he claimed had "decided to transfer the function and keep the money at the headquarters," a practice he intends to correct during his tenure.

"I will be the last person, within my many years in Parliament, as a majority leader, not to violate the laws that I participated in creating," he declared.

While taking a firm stance on the payroll transfer, the CS indicated willingness to discuss other matters, including terms of service and gratuity, but maintained that “you cannot have your cake and eat it.”

Duale also addressed childhood vaccination, urging health officials to achieve optimum level coverage and locate approximately 30,000 children who remain unvaccinated within Kenya's borders.

“We must make sure that our numbers in terms of how many children we vaccinate, that number must reach the optimum level. We must look for the 30000 plus, they are not living across the border, they are living within the borders of Kenya,” Duale said.

When UHC staff held a protest on Tuesday, their concerns included renewal of contracts, salary disparities, and transitioning of those with over five years of service to Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) terms.