Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has said his government will role out a universal health scheme for residents on Wednesday.
He said residents will be registered with the NHIF and other insurances companies offering medical polices.
The governor who spoke on Sunday at PCEA Gikambura church in Kikuyu constituency said all residents will have access to better healthcare.
He said many people have suffered while looking for money for their patients.
Wamatangi said once they struggle and get admitted, they continue suffering when their patient is discharged since they cannot settle the bill and end up holding a fundraiser at their homes.
The governor said even if insurances companies assist families to pay such bills, some people fail to keep their registered accounts updated owing to poor income, lack of jobs and poverty.
“We shall do it free of charge and we shall be paying NHIF monthly fee for all the people who shall enroll," he said.
"We have others medical insurance companies that we have spoken to and agreed to enroll our people. People will have an NHIF card and an insurance card.”
Wamatangi was accompanied by speaker Charles Thiongo, MCAs Samuel Njoroge Icembe (Karai) James Boro (Kikuyu Township), Kamau (Muguga) and Esther Wambui (nominated).
Nancy Wanja, a resident lauded the move by the Kiambu government.
“This is a very good move by our county government. It will end the fears of what will happen when a member of a poor family is admitted in a hospital,” she said.
Laban Njoroge, a resident also urged the people of Kiambu county to secure health policies to reduce hospital bill fundraisers.
He said there are many health policies from different insurance companies that have assisted families to pay hospital bills.
Njoroge said some like the National Hospital Insurance Fund and other private companies require one to pay monthly contributions to keep the account active.
He said some people live with curable diseases because they are unable to pay for monthly insurance polices like NHIF.
“I am pleading with you to register with NHIF or other insurance companies offering health policies. One needs to research since their levies are different. Some are expensive, while others are cheaper,” Njoroge said.
“At this age and time, when there are so many diseases, we need to be secure in terms of health and insurance.”
Njoroge spoke at Gitithia village where he had attended a fundraiser on Sunday.
The fundraiser was for payment of a Sh70,000 medical bill left by Geoffrey Gichure who passed away on October 16, at AIC Kijabe Hospital.
Njoroge said Gichure's family is paying for the hospital bill after the body was released on a surety.
The resident who supports community health workers said some families gets it rough when they cannot afford a fee to have their patient admitted.
