President William Ruto has assured Kenyans that the newly introduced Social Health Authority (Taifa Care) will work.
Speaking during a church service at Jesus Winner Ministry, Roysambu, Ruto said that it may take some time to be perfect but it will work.
He said the former administrations tried implementing the Universal Health Care program but failed.
He affirmed that this time around, the programme will succeed.
“SHA is the biggest programme we have in the Republic of Kenya, maybe it will take time to be perfect but believe you me, it is going to work. We have tried, we tried as Jubilee but failed, but this time around, we will succeed,” Ruto said.
He said the health insurance scheme seeks to ensure that every Kenyan, irrespective of financial background, has medical cover.
In the past, he noted, health insurance was only available to those who were in employment or had the means to pay.
On jobs, President Ruto said the government has put in place robust measures to create opportunities for young people. He cited the export of labour programme, which, he said, is expanding horizons for many youth.
He commended the leadership of Jesus Winner Ministry for securing employment opportunities abroad for its members, and asked other religious organisations to emulate such initiatives.
“Instead of engaging in blame games, we can work together to find solutions to our problems,” he added.
The President said he was optimistic that the country would continue to thrive, citing increased agricultural productivity and the stability of the economy.
Implementation of SHA has been a major issue of concern across the country with mixed reports coming from Kenyans over its use.
While government insists that it is working, Kenyans say they have to dig deeper into their pockets to access services.
On February 26, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa reassured private hospitals that the government is actively working to settle the Sh30 billion NHIF debt.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by police officers and teachers in accessing services at these facilities, Barasa said together with the Social Health Authority (SHA) team, they have held meetings to develop a payment plan.
“We are engaging Treasury and various Ministries, Departments and Agencies involved to ensure we clear this debt so that services can resume,” she said.
