Lodwar – December 15, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The County Government has received findings of a study conducted by the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) showing that public servants aged 41 years and above, with more years of professional experience, are more likely to remain deployed in rural and harsh geographies.
The study further established that working and living conditions, including security at home, access to electricity both at the workplace, household level, and availability of clean water at home are critical factors influencing the attraction and retention of health workers.
Healthcare workers across both public and faith-based facilities cited inadequate access to standby ambulances, alongside limited shopping and entertainment options, as key challenges affecting retention in rural and hardship areas.
The multi-county study sampled nine rural counties identified by the Ministry of Health (MoH, 2023) as having the lowest core health workforce density per 10,000 population. The counties included Turkana, Narok, Wajir, West Pokot, Tana River, Trans Nzoia, Lamu, Bomet, and Kwale.
Speaking during the dissemination meeting, the Assistant Director for Physiotherapy Services, Concepta Longole noted that the findings are a true reflection of the realities facing the health sector in Turkana, while acknowledging the progress made since the advent of devolution.
“I have served in the public service for 30 years, and while some of these challenges have existed for a long time, the findings are an eye-opener. They have far-reaching implications that should inform service delivery, strengthen emergency and referral systems, enhance employment stability, and improve Human Resources for Health (HRH) protection mechanisms,” she said.
Longole added that, in efforts to strengthen emergency and referral systems, the County Government has allocated at least one fully equipped ambulance to each sub-county, with dedicated operational budgets.
Addressing career development, Longole encouraged health workers to take advantage of county-supported frameworks for continuous professional development and equitable training opportunities.
“We encourage public servants to invest in their career growth. The policy allows staff to go back to school, and the County Government consistently granted opportunities, including support for those seeking external transfers,” she noted.
She, however, acknowledged existing challenges related to human resource norms, particularly delays in regular recruitment and promotions, which are ideally expected every three years, noting that efforts are underway to address these gaps.
Citing global projections, Longole highlighted that the world is expected to face a shortage of 18 million health workers by 2030, with Africa accounting for a deficit of 6.1 million an outcome that will disproportionately affect rural populations.
“These findings provide a strong starting point for us as a county, and we appreciate the evidence generated,” she said.
The lead researcher, Jam Omogi, emphasised the need for review and harmonization of compensation packages, investment in structured career development pathways, strengthened transparency, and predictable human resource management systems to enhance motivation and retention.
“I first came to Turkana in 2017, and I must acknowledge the significant improvements in health infrastructure and service delivery. However, implementing these recommendations will further strengthen the gains made,” he said.
Omogi added that Turkana, according to the MoH 2023 report, has the lowest number of core healthcare workers, and retaining the few available staff remains a major challenge across rural counties.
The findings were presented to healthcare workers from Loima and Turkana West sub-counties, where the study was conducted. The study examined the attraction and retention of Human Resources for Health (HRH) in rural and harsh geographies, with the objective of identifying key factors influencing workforce stability in underserved areas of Kenya.
