Flashback: The day Ruto promised free hospitals starting January 2024
President William Ruto pledged once more on November 19, 2023, to provide complimentary healthcare to every citizen of Kenya.
Addressing a congregation at a church service in Sotik, Bomet county, Ruto announced that starting from January 2024, all Kenyans would receive cost-free treatment at every hospital across the country.
“As of January (2024), we will reduce NHIF, the one you pay Ksh500 so that the poorest pay Ksh300. For those who are not able to even pay the Ksh300, the government of Kenya will pay for you because we will measure the ability of every Kenyan,” he said.
“Each one of us as Kenyans will go to the hospital, be treated, and go home without being asked for a penny because we want to make sure Kenya is a country that is functioning well.”
Nevertheless, six weeks later, there were no indications of accessible medical treatment without cost, as the well-known Social Health Insurance fund, intended to supplant NHIF, faced a setback in the legal system.
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Seven days following Ruto’s commitment, the High Court halted the scheduled enactment of the Social Health Insurance Act 2023 by the Ministry of Health until February 2024.
On November 27, 2023, Justice Chacha Mwita issued a temporary halt to the state’s implementation of three recently announced funds, which were published by Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha. This suspension will remain in place until a court case brought forward by activist Joseph Enock is resolved.
“In the meantime, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents (President William Ruto, CSs in the Ministry of Health and Information, the Attorney General, Commission for Revenue Collection, The National Assembly and the Senate), their agents and or anyone acting on their directives from implementing and or enforcing The Social Health Insurance Act,2023; The Primary Health Care Act, 2023 and the Digital Health Act,2023 until February 7, 2024,” Justice Mwita ordered.
The legislation aimed at establishing the Social Health Insurance Fund, intending to increase the monthly payments made by Kenyan citizens towards the government’s healthcare program.
Flashback: The day Ruto promised free hospitals starting January 2024
