COG chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi stated that the governors would only consider taking the health staff onto county payrolls if the national government first allocates Sh7.7 billion to align their salaries with the guidelines issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). He added that the Ministry of Health must also settle gratuity arrears of Sh9.4 billion owed to contractual staff before any transition.
“The government has failed to provide sufficient funding to absorb these people until their contract has come to an end. They want to set up the counties against their workers by saying it is the governors who are refusing to employ them permanently. Enough is enough,” Abdullahi said.
The governors accused Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale of deflecting responsibility to counties as workers’ contracts expire. They warned that absorbing staff without proper funding would disrupt services and likely cause strikes, highlighting the risk to county stability.
Abdullahi maintained the national government can prevent counties’ financial strain by allocating resources, in line with constitutional requirements on devolution. Failure to do so, the governors argue, places undue hardship on devolved units.
The governors also took issue with Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi over the hurried rollout of the electronic government procurement (EGP) system. They claimed the system, introduced nationally without adequate piloting, has paralysed operations in some counties, including the procurement of essential medicines.
“We note with concern that the rollout was hasty, marred with inconsistencies and has disrupted service delivery in counties. Only three counties participated in the pilot, yet the system was enforced nationally before the gaps were addressed,” Abdullahi stated.
The governors demanded the immediate withdrawal of Mbadi’s circular, which enforced EGP implementation, insisting that it undermines devolution and county autonomy. They called for comprehensive consultations, legal alignment, and capacity building before the system is adopted.
“The constitution is clear that sovereignty lies at two levels, the national and county governments. We will not allow administrative fiats that claw back devolution,” Abdullahi warned.
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