The National Assembly has approved a motion calling for the formulation and implementation of a national policy framework to guide the recruitment and remuneration of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across the country.

The Motion, sponsored by Hon. George Murugara, seeks to formalise the position of CHPs, who provide frontline primary healthcare services and link households with the formal health system.

MPs said the workers remain inadequately facilitated and remunerated despite their contribution to universal health coverage and the constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health.

The proposed framework would provide clear standards for recruitment, training, remuneration and career progression while addressing the responsibilities of the national and county governments.

Supporting the Motion, Hon. Dr Robert Pukose said a proper scheme of service would establish clear training standards and minimum qualifications for CHPs.

“By having a proper scheme of service, we are able to clearly define the level of training that Community Health Promoters should receive, the minimum qualifications required, and how often they should have access to further training,” said Hon. Pukose.

He called for continuous education to ensure the workers remain equipped with relevant skills, including first aid and other basic healthcare interventions.

Hon. Gitonga Mukunji said the current facilitation was insufficient, with some CHPs struggling to meet even their transport costs.

“The resources that we give to community health promoters are too meagre to even cover their transport costs,” he said.

He attributed part of the problem to the sharing of responsibilities between the national and county governments and urged the House to consider a framework that would place remuneration under the national government.

Hon. Beatrice Elachi urged the Government to ensure that any formal recruitment process does not disadvantage CHPs who have served communities for years, often as volunteers.

She said their experience should be recognised when new qualification and recruitment standards are introduced.

“If this House is to resolve this matter, we should first recognize that the community health promoters we have today have volunteered for many years,” she said.

Hon. Elachi said some CHPs have received training in basic health assessments and can identify cases requiring referral to health facilities.

She also called for insurance and other forms of welfare support, citing the registration of many Nairobi-based CHPs under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Hon. Tom Odege said the country needed to invest more heavily in prevention to reduce the burden on hospitals and the cost of treating advanced illnesses.

He said CHPs should receive adequate facilitation and security to enable them to serve effectively.

“If people have to rely entirely on hospitals, that will be difficult, given the condition of many of our facilities,” said Hon. Odege.

Hon. Timothy Torortich linked the Motion to Article 43 of the Constitution, which guarantees every person the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

He said greater investment in prevention and early intervention could reduce the financial burden of disease on households and the national economy.

Hon. Torortich also called on county governments to take their responsibilities seriously, noting that health is a devolved function under the Constitution.

He urged the Government to ensure that funding arrangements reflect the responsibilities assigned to the two levels of government.

The Motion gives Parliament a basis for pushing the Government towards a structured system for recruiting, training and remunerating CHPs, while resolving questions over the treatment of existing volunteers and the division of financial responsibility between the national and county governments.