National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula speaking during midterm MPs retreat in Naivasha/ HANDOUTNational Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has directed the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health, Robert Pukose (MP Endebess), to invite the Ministry of Health and representatives from the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The Speaker said the committee should meet officials next week to deliberate on the challenges facing the implementation of the SHA.
This follows concerns raised by MPs over challenges faced by Kenyans in using the new healthcare system.
Based on discussions, Wetang'ula noted that the issues plaguing the SHA primarily revolved around communication and service delivery.
“I hereby direct the Chairperson, Robert Pukose, to obtain a transcribed Hansard report of all issues raised by Members of Parliament in this session and hold a meeting with the Ministry/SHA management next week,” he said.
“You will issue a comprehensive report to the House on February 11, 2025, as the House resumes session. We need a clear plan to address these challenges.”
He spoke on Thursday during the final day of the ongoing midterm retreat for MPs in Naivasha.
Present were Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai and Social Health Authority (SHA) Board Chairman Abdi Mohamed.
They called on MPs to support efforts aimed at increasing enrollment in the SHA registration campaign.
The two officials underscored the critical role of the SHA program in advancing the government's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
They emphasized that higher enrollment is key to ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for all Kenyans.
“We need your support as leaders to communicate this message to your constituents and encourage them to register and pay their premiums. Your influence is crucial in bridging the gap between government initiatives and citizens,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed also called on MPs to educate the public on the benefits of joining the program and paying premiums based on their ability to contribute.
Kimtai highlighted the transformative potential of the SHA program, noting that it could ease the financial burden of healthcare for vulnerable populations if implemented effectively.
He urged MPs to champion the program in their constituencies, positioning it as a critical step toward achieving health equity.
“This initiative is not just about healthcare; it’s about ensuring fairness and dignity for every Kenyan. We need your leadership to make this vision a reality,” the PS said.
SHA Acting CEO Robert Ingasira acknowledged the communication and outreach challenges but appealed to MPs to serve as goodwill ambassadors.
He highlighted that, despite setbacks, there was still room to register more Kenyans and assured that gaps in service delivery were being addressed.
“I thank all the members who worked closely with us to increase the numbers, and now we stand at 22 million registered members under the programme. There is still room to register more Kenyans,” Ingasira said.
“There are challenges, but we are working tirelessly to resolve them,” he added.
Despite the efforts, the legislators expressed their concerns, citing the numerous challenges still facing the program.
