President William Ruto/PCSPresident William Ruto has called on Kenyans to ignore the propaganda being peddled about the new Taifa Care universal health cover.
Speaking during the launch of Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project Phase 1-Lot 2 on Wednesday, Ruto said unlike the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), Taifa Care, under the Social Health Authority, will cover many Kenyans.
The President said with NHIF, one needed a source of income to be covered, but with Taifa Care, all Kenyans, with or without a job, will be taken care of.
He noted that the government will cater for those who will not have money to pay for Taifa Care.
He went on to say that during campaigns, he promised to transform and streamline the health sector, and that is what he is doing.
“I promised to streamline health matters. Previously, with NHIF, you needed a job or the capacity to pay to be covered. This new programme, with or without a job, you will have access to treatment and medication in hospitals. There are people spreading propaganda out here. Registration for SHA or Taifa Care is free,” Ruto said.
“If you are not able to pay, the government will pay for you.”
He added that once people are registered, the government will be able to know the number of people who will seek services from the nearest hospitals, and they will be able to know how much resources each hospital will need.
“When you register, the government will be able to know how many people seek services in your dispensary so that we can plan to distribute enough medicine, doctors, and equipment.”
He urged Kenyans not to let themselves to be misled by other people over the matter.
Ruto also said that elected leaders who are against SHA are doing so because they now have to pay more compared to the Sh1,700 they paid previously.
He was accompanied by among other leaders Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
