Government proposes changes to NHIF to suit all people

By Robert Mutasi

The government through the Ministry of health plans to submit a bill to Parliament that will force each citizen to pay 2.7% of his salary to contribute to National Health Insurance NHIF.

President William Ruto says the bill aims to ensure that citizens pay NHIF based on their income potential and salary. 

Speaking after attending a prayer service organized by a religious alliance in Kajiado County, low-income citizens will pay only 300 shillings while high-payers pay more than 10,000.

President William Ruto along with his Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua led government leaders to the event, the health issue became one of the main issues he emphasized in his speech. 

"Now we have changed we say everyone will pay 2.75% that is enough for me and those bosses we will pay, that mamamboga also reduce her and  for everyone to the road, the law we bring to the Parliament," said President Ruto.

Likewise the president continued to advocate for a controversial financial bill saying it was a measure he took to get rid of countries against dependence on foreign nations, warning the opposition that their threats to call protests would not stop the intention and the government would never allow property damage during the protests. 

"So just come and demonstrate, better not to try to destroy the property of the Kenyans, because that is impossible," Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua warned the opposition. 

"Even those opposition People I respect them to do opposition work but do opposition work knowing Kenya is all of us, plan well, criticize it for planning not for destroying," said Ruto. 

Ruto has also said his government is on track to cooperate with county governments to strengthen health in the countryside where in addition to empowering volunteer health officials he has also allocated money to put supplies to various hospitals. 

The government will have to allocate roughly 3 billion shillings to ensure all community health promoters are equipped. 

Various Kajiado leaders led by Governor Joseph Olelenku were present, who used the platform to call on President Ruto to address the drought challenge which is increasingly a blow to pastoralism activities.