Kang'ata Care programme wins continental award in Kampala

Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata addressing the African Association for Public Administration and Management conference in Kampala, Uganda.

Murang’a County’s Kang’ata Care programme won gold during the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) awards held in Kampala, Uganda.

The programme raised the country’s flag high and was competing against Tanzania, Zambia, Egypt and Mauritius.

The awards were issued during the 43^rd AAPAM conference themed ‘Agile and Resilient Public Administration for Sustainable Development in Africa’.

Kenya has previously shone in the awards, with E-citizen taking the fourth place in 2017 while Huduma centres came in second in 2022.

The Kang’ata Care initiative was recognised for its exceptional effectiveness in addressing key challenges in healthcare affordability, providing critical support to thousands of disadvantaged residents. 

Started in 2022, Kang’ata Care provides free health insurance to over 42,000 vulnerable households, including those with orphans, persons living with disabilities, persons living with chronic illnesses and the extremely poor.

The programme was started after the county government signed a memorandum of understanding with the defunct NHIF to have a customized package for beneficiaries.

It provides access to optical and dental care, free inpatient and outpatient cover, Sh500,000 for overseas medical treatment, and Sh100,000 last expense cover in case of the death of a principal member.

“Mine is to commend the county staff for their exemplary work in transforming healthcare in the county,” Governor Irungu Kang'ata, who was accompanied by MCAs and some county government officials, said after receiving the award.

The county government was however forced to change benefits offered after the entrance of Social Health Authority (SHA) that was unable to offer some of its components.

The county floated a tender for the last expense cover that was won by Britam which then introduced an age limit and excluded members who are over 75 years of age.

Britam however introduced Sh25,000 school fees payment for dependents of a principal member who passes away and Sh10,000 in case a principal member gives birth.

The county recently announced that as of October 1, the now disbanded NHIF was yet to process and pay 560 claims under the programme.

By the end of November, SHA, which inherited NHIF’s liabilities, had settled 260 claims.