Governor Faces Impeachment Days After Disagreeing With Duale

The Universal Healthcare Workers have called for the impeachment of Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki for opposing the Ministry of Health’s move to absorb the workers to permanent and pensionable terms.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 27, the workers claimed that the governor’s statement was insensitive and misleading, and that the Tharaka Nithi County MCAs should launch impeachment proceedings against him for gross misconduct and mismanagement of healthcare workers as the Health Committee Chair of the Council of Governors (COG).
The workers have further threatened to hold demonstrations at the Tharaka Nithi County Headquartersuntil the governor withdraws his statements.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) should also launch investigations into graft cases tied to the governor since he took office, according to the UHC staff.
According to the medics, the governor should issue a public apology to all healthcare workers for his statements, which they claimed undermined their efforts to call for the employment of the workers.
“We categorically distance ourselves from the reckless, insensitive, and misleading remarks made by the chairperson of the Council of Governors, Governor Muthomi Njuki. His statements are an insult to the sacrifices of healthcare and do not reflect the reality in our counties,” the statement read.
“It is regrettable that under his leadership, nepotism, corruption, and mismanagement of healthcare workers have persisted. As UHC healthcare workers, we demand a public apology from Governor Njuki to healthcare workers nationwide,” it added.
In a statement on Monday, August 25, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that over 7000 verified UHC staff will be absorbed by September 2025.
The health boss claimed that the decision to absorb the staff was made after the State Department for Medical Services, in collaboration with the Council of Governors (CoG), conducted a verification process of all UHC staff across the country to verify the staff.
“Consequently, the remaining 7,414 staff will be categorised into two groups: those currently in active service and those with pending disciplinary issues. Staff in active service will be formally transitioned and absorbed with effect from September 2025,” Duale stated.
However, a day after the announcement, Governor Njuki claimed that the absorption of the workers contravened the previously agreed position between the national and county government in regards to absorption of the staff.
According to Njuki, in a statement on Tuesday, August 26, Duale should onlymake such a move if the government allocates adequate resourcesin accordance with the approved Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) scale, and after the transfer of payroll to county governments has been agreed.
“While acknowledging the ongoing collaboration between the two levels of government in addressing the management of UHC staff, the Council wishes to clarify that it does not concur with the Ministry of Health’s position expressed in the press statement. The press contradicts the previously agreed position between the National and County Governments,” Njuki stated.