Nyeri Governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga has appealed to leaders to refrain from reading politics in the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and instead rally Kenyans to get registered into the program.
Speaking while officiating the roll out of a countywide Social Health Authority (SHA) registration of exercise at the Nyeri Town Health Center on Wednesday, Dr Kahiga said it would be suicidal for any leader to politicize the matter as it borders on the lives of millions of Kenyans.
The County boss said while many leaders may be opposed to the idea of migrating into the new health care system, ordinary persons do not have alternatives from which to choose.
He said he had personally decided to lead from the front by mobilizing the public to come out and get listed as one way of ensuring no single family is left out in the Government’s plan of providing health care to all.
“There comes a time when we as leaders have to separate politics and grave issues that affect our people. Politicking over the Social Health Authority and the Social Health Insurance Fund won’t bring health to our sick people. None of the leaders who are criticizing this program will take your place when you get sick. I reiterate what I said the other day. I may not like SHA since I feel the Sh27,000 that is being deducted from my pay slip is not commensurate with the services I find in our public health services. Be that as it may, I will support the health insurance scheme since someone else who cannot afford such an amount of pay gets health care in the long run,” he said.
“I therefore urge politicians to stop gambling with people’s lives over this matter but kindly assist the people to access quality health care instead of telling them SHA is not working.”
While addressing health practitioners at the Nyeri Cultural Center on Monday, the Governor said Nyeri could not afford being left out of the new health scheme at a time other counties were well ahead.
Dr Kahiga underscored the need for the general public to take advantage of the new health insurance scheme which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund terming it as the only way out in funding the cost of medical care among both the well off and the low-income earners.
“As we stand here today there’s no alternative to the Social Health Insurance Fund. As a county, as a country we have no alternative. A few days ago, we were leading in terms of (SHIF)registration. We are at number seven at 30 per cent while Mombasa is at 40 per cent. These are numbers we can beat. The only thing we need to do is to collectively agree that this must be done. And if registration in the Social Health Insurance Fund is the only way to get treatment, do we have a choice?” posed the County boss.
The Governor has also urged the Government to expedite the process of releasing funds for the 2,510 Community Health Promoters in the county to help boost the morale of the health care providers who form a critical cog in the registration program.
He said the workers have played a crucial role in pushing the number of those already registered to a total of 290,743 persons as at January 30 2025 but said the number could be higher with proper planning and funding for those working at the grassroots.
“We are going to support the Government and ensure we achieve the desired goals in providing health care to all Kenyans. By yesterday the Social Health Authority owed our health facilities a total of Sh300 million. Fortunately, we have received Sh27 million from the authority today (Wednesday) as payment on claims by patients already treated at the Nyeri Teaching and Referral Hospital. What we now wish to request from the Government is to spearhead the speedy disbursement of payments for the Health Care Promoters who are doing a really good job in reaching those at the local level and ensuring this registration exercise is going on well,” he added.
And following the recent move by President Donald Trump to suspend all US funded-critical health programs in developing nations, Kahiga said the decision has already affected 100 employees working under the US Centre for Diseases and Prevention (US-CDC).
He nevertheless lauded Treasury CS John Mbadi’s assurance to the public that the Government will address the issue by reallocating funds from development projects to programs that will be affected by Trump’s decision to freeze US funded programs in the country.
Nyeri County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi who was present during the launch said the launch was a timely gesture as it will help the public benefit from quality and affordable health care.
Mwiwawi termed the roll out of SHA as nothing new but a systematic program of addressing health challenges in the county that date as far back as 1965.
The administrator said the only thing the scheme is trying to do is cure the challenges that have dogged the implementation of previous health insurance schemes.
The administrators said the Government had employed the help of local administrators across the county who are spearheading efforts in sensitizing the public on the need to get registered in the social health scheme.
“The Social Health Authority is attempting to ensure that all Kenyans are covered, are protected and that their dignity is preserved and that they can get quality health service. This is a journey we don’t have a choice but have to work together. If we have any issues, we only have to make amendments to the current policy,” he stated.
By Samuel Maina and Geoffrey Chaura