Treasury CS says funds have been factored in a supplementary budget to pay nurses from January to June as they wait for the doctors’ union to strike a deal.
The Council of Governors had raised concerns that there will be a crisis if funds to cater for a pay deal that will be arrived at are not budgeted for.
Mr Rotich says counties must appreciate that health is a devolved function and that the counties have a role to play in management of health personnel.
The national government will only pay for any salary increments awarded to doctors and nurses for six months before leaving each level of government to take care of its own medical staff.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said Wednesday that funds have been factored in a supplementary budget to pay nurses from January to June as they await a deal with the doctors’ union.
The Council of Governors had earlier raised concerns of an impending crisis if funds to cater for a pay deal arrived at in on-going negotiations are not budgeted for.
The council chairman Peter Munya said county governments had agreed with the national government that the money be set aside in this year’s budget.
“Treasury was to take that burden and deduct the money from allocations to the Ministry of Health. If not reflected in the county allocations, there will be a crisis,” Mr Munya said.
County responsibility
“Health is a devolved function, but people don’t want to accept. 70 per cent of medical workers fall under counties. The employees are for governors,” Mr Rotich said after a meeting with the Senate Finance Committee in Nairobi.
He said delays to implement a deal arrived at with nurses was due to logistical issues and revealed that the funds would be disbursed immediately it is clear how much is meant for the devolved units.
“It is not that we are refusing to pay. The money is available but logistics is what is delaying the disbursements. Even if we delay, we shall pay in arrears,” Mr Rotich said.
The nurses ended their two-week strike in December after signing an agreement with county governments and the Ministry of Health.
Kenya Union of Nurses (KNUN) secretary general Seth Panyako signed the deal on behalf of the health workers after governors agreed to recognise their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Mr Rotich said the counties must appreciate that health is a devolved function and that they had a role to play in management of the personnel.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) are spearheading the court-initiated mediation process.
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