Silverio Omari
President William Ruto on Monday expressed confidence that the ongoing challenges Kenyans are facing in accessing healthcare following the October transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) will soon be resolved.
Speaking at the 11th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit held at State House, Nairobi, President Ruto attributed the difficulties associated with the new healthcare scheme, now rebranded as Taifa Care, to its ambitious scale and scope.
“Taifa Care is navigating technological and operational hurdles to guarantee that every citizen, irrespective of their status or means, receives quality and affordable healthcare,” Ruto said. “For the record, the scale, boldness, and ambition of Taifa Care are unprecedented. We are confident that the current challenges will be addressed in due course,” he added.
SHA has faced sharp criticism for offering minimal benefits, alongside widespread complaints from Kenyans struggling to access healthcare services since the transition. However, President Ruto, alongside senior government officials such as Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, has defended the program and urged Kenyans to remain patient.
Under SHA, all Kenyans are required to contribute 2.75% of their income, with a minimum contribution of Ksh. 300.
During his State of the Nation address on November 21, when he officially rebranded SHA to Taifa Care, President Ruto announced that over 15 million Kenyans had already been enrolled in the scheme.
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