Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers in Kenya are threatening a fresh strike, announcing planned demonstrations in Nairobi on Tuesday, January 27, to demand permanent employment and payment of gratuities from the Ministry of Health.

• The UHC workers notified the Nairobi police commander on Thursday, January 22, of their peaceful protest aimed at fast-tracking their transition to permanent employment and receiving gratuities owed since October 2020.
• The demonstration, expected to draw up to 1000 participants, will proceed from Green Park bus terminus to Afya House (Ministry of Health offices), the Public Service Commission headquarters, the National Treasury, and conclude at the Council of Governors (CoG) office.
• Despite an announcement by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale in September 2024 that over 7,000 UHC workers would be hired permanently by September 2025, the transition has been slow, with further expedition planned for the 2026/27 financial year, fueling the workers' frustration and planned protest.

Kenya's Public Health PS, Mary Muthoni, detailed how the government is utilizing digital systems for real-time monitoring of healthcare delivery nationwide, a move she says has significantly improved oversight and service provision. This transformation was enabled by the Digital Health Act of 2023.

• The Ministry of Health now receives daily reports from community health promoters and facilities across all 47 counties.
• The system tracks critical indicators such as diabetes screenings, childhood malnutrition checks, and facility referrals.
• Healthcare workers are fully digitized, allowing the government to track professional practice and prevent misuse; practitioners can be locked out for fraudulent access, as exemplified by One-Time Passwords (OTPs) under the Social Health Authority (SHA) which require physical presence at the registered facility to prevent "ghost services" and protect public funds under the Universal Health Coverage program.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about potential outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoeal diseases in Kenya due to the ongoing severe drought. Nine counties are particularly at risk as water scarcity forces reliance on unsafe sources.

• Livinus Martins, Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response at WHO Kenya, highlighted the increased risk of waterborne diseases and malnutrition due to drought conditions.
• Nine counties, including Wajir, Garissa, and Kilifi, are severely affected, impacting access to clean water for 2.5 million citizens at risk of severe hunger and water scarcity.
• The Kenya Meteorological Department forecasts hotter and drier conditions until February, with a warning that compacted soils could lead to flash floods and additional health risks when rains eventually arrive.