Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has reiterated the
government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), saying
President William Ruto’s administration is transforming Kenya’s health sector
after years of mismanagement and exclusion.
In a statement on Monday, Duale said the Ministry of Health
is dismantling what he termed a system that had become a “cash cow for a few,”
leaving millions unable to access essential healthcare. He noted that ongoing
reforms are geared toward creating an equitable system that guarantees quality
and affordable services for every Kenyan.
“Under the leadership of President William Ruto, our
Ministry remains firmly committed to delivering Universal Health Coverage to
every Kenyan,” Duale said. He added that the changes underway are reversing
years in which ordinary citizens struggled to obtain even basic medical
attention.
A key component of the reforms is the establishment of the
Social Health Authority (SHA), which replaces the National Health Insurance
Fund (NHIF).
Duale said the new authority is designed to overhaul health
financing and strengthen accountability, addressing long-standing concerns
about inefficiency and corruption in the previous model.
He also highlighted the rollout of Taifa Care, a social
protection programme aimed at ensuring that all Kenyans, particularly
low-income households, can access essential medical services without falling
into financial distress.
The revival of Linda Jamii and other targeted interventions,
he said, demonstrates the government’s intention to expand the safety net for
vulnerable groups.
“I speak for the pastoralist community. The difference between NHIF and SHA is that NHIF only recognises one wife and a husband. SHA recognises
up to four wives and an unlimited number of children, as long as one can prove he
is the parent.
“These reforms aim to provide quality, affordable, and
accessible healthcare for all, regardless of income, geography or social
status,” he said.
According to Duale, the Ministry is also working to
streamline service delivery across counties, enhance primary healthcare, and
improve transparency within the sector.
He said these measures are part of a broader national agenda
to make timely and reliable healthcare a guaranteed right for all Kenyans.
Duale maintained that the transformation now underway will
help restore public trust in the country’s health system and ensure that
healthcare is no longer a privilege reserved for a few.
The Ministry of Health is expected to unveil additional UHC
initiatives in the coming months as implementation of the reforms progresses.
The CS called leaders to work together with the government in
achieving the UHC dream.
"We don’t want our leaders to only critic, we want to
get the feedback. We want both the county government and leaders in parliament
to walk with us as we deliver universal health care to Kenyans."
