HEALTH CS ADEN DUALE TO CONFIRM UHC NURSES AFTER GHOST WORKER VETTING

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced that nurses under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme will soon be confirmed to permanent terms after a thorough vetting process to eliminate ghost workers. The confirmation will follow an extensive verification exercise that aims to root out those irregularly enrolled in the programme.

Speaking in Uasin Gishu County, Duale revealed that the Ministry of Health is in the final stages of this vetting process, which is expected to conclude by next week. Once completed, qualified health workers will be hired on permanent and pensionable terms. Duale confirmed that funds for the hiring of UHC staff have already been allocated by Parliament, but he warned against any attempts to influence the ongoing vetting process. “I have the money to hire UHC workers, but no one should try to harass me while the process is still ongoing,” he said.

Preliminary findings from the vetting exercise have revealed that thousands of individuals were irregularly employed and have been fraudulently drawing salaries. Many of those listed as nurses, Duale noted, were not trained professionals and have been unlawfully receiving public funds. These cases, he added, would be handed over to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for further investigation. “If you are not a qualified nurse but have been earning as one under UHC, prepare to face the law,” Duale warned, stressing that those implicated will be required to refund the public funds they fraudulently obtained.

The CS also advised workers not to resort to protests or pressure tactics during the ongoing process. “The focus must remain on the patient, not on the employees or the institutions. The real boss in healthcare is the patient,” he stated.

In addition, Duale reminded Kenyans that primary healthcare in facilities below level four is free of charge and urged citizens not to pay for services at these levels. He also commended President William Ruto’s administration for successfully rolling out universal healthcare, noting that over 25 million Kenyans have already enrolled in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). The CS emphasized that the new healthcare model guarantees equal access to health services for all citizens, irrespective of their economic or social background.