Planned mass transfer of health workers gets Senate's attention

By ALLY JAMAH and ROSELYNE OBALA

NAIROBI, KENYA: The controversy over the planned transfer of thousands of health workers to the county governments spilled over to the Senate on Wednesday.

Senators demanded a ministerial statement on the matter hoping to stave off a crisis in the essential services sector.

This comes after health workers including doctors, nurses and clinical officers issued a 21-day notice of a national strike if the Government does not reverse the move to transfer them to counties.

Majority Chief Whip and Nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi requested a full statement on the controversial issue from the Senate Health Committee, saying answers are needed urgently to avoid the looming strike.

Elachi requested that the statement should indicate if the Ministry of Health had conducted sufficient consultations, if any, with health professionals before making the decision to put them under county governments. She also sought answers on contentious issues such as their salaries and pensions and compensation for years of service.

“The statement should clarify how the process of transfer to county governments will be carried out in a way that does not disadvantage health workers when they are moved to the devolved governments,” she said.

HEALTH WORKERS

The statement is also expected to shed light on whether or not the national government can continue handling the health workers’ payroll until county governments are ready to take over the function. She wondered how many counties deem themselves ready for the job

Chairperson of the Health Committee Mohammed Kuti said regarding doctors’ and nurses’ salaries, the Ministry of Health had assured the Senate that they would not be devolved until counties were ready to handle the task.

“Individual counties will be evaluated from December 31, this year, to see if they have structures to handle the payroll of health professionals. Only those counties with capacity will be allowed to pay doctors and nurses,” he said. 

Kuti promised to give a comprehensive statement on the matter next week after getting answers from Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.

Previously, doctors, nurses and clinical officers had petitioned the Senate to intervene and stop the move to transfer them to county governments.

They insisted that they needed to remain under the ambit of the national government because they offer an essential service.