More than 10 legislators allied to the ruling United Democratic Alliance and Jubilee Party have supported President William Ruto’s health plan and Universal Health Coverage.
The MPs said the new health plans were meant to ensure that all Kenyans access quality medical services regardless of their financial status or social class.
They said President Ruto wants everyone to be covered for the treatment of all diseases, including the chronic ones such as cancer, diabetes, and blood pressure, by the proposed Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
The lawmakers were speaking during the burial of the mother of gospel musician Karangu Muraya in Subukia subcounty, Nakuru.
The MPs, who included Sabina Chege(Nominated), Samuel Gachobe (Subikia), Irene Njoki Mrembo(Bahati) and John Kiragu(Limuru) said those opposing the proposed change in Health Department were enemies of the people.
The others were Martha Wangari (Gilgil), James Githua(Kabete), Laikipia County Woman Representative Jane Kagiri and East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Kanini Kega among others.
“On the UHC, the moneyed people will be deducted a higher contribution so that the middle class can contribute Sh300 instead of Sh500 while the lower cadre, who cannot pay for their insurance cover, get medical services for free,” Gachobe said.
He promised to lobby his colleagues to push for a bigger budgetary allocation to health to ensure that the ministry has sufficient money for equipment, personnel, research, and other logistics.
Bahati MP claimed that those going to court to stop the Bills were rich enough to buy insurance policies from the private sector.
“Common mwananchi do not have such privileges, and that is why the President wants to ensure that they are protected too, especially from the chronic diseases that are impoverishing families,” she said.
Njoki noted that it was uncommon to see families selling their properties, including land, to pay medical bills for their relatives.