Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has called on Kenyans to pray for the government and the judges who are handling the case challenging the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Act 2023.
The CS asked to be given two weeks for the case to end and pave way for the implementation of the reforms as per the act.
“Someone with a comprehensive insurance cover is in court to stop the plan. I have educated you people and I know tonight there are those of you who will pray for me,” Nakhumicha said.
She was speaking on Saturday during the burial ceremony of Gladys Wanjiku Muriuki, sister to PS Public Health Mary Muthoni at Ngiriambu Village in Kirinyaga.
The Cabinet Secretary (CS) expressed regret that the individual who had taken legal action to impede the reforms enjoys comprehensive insurance, while many Kenyans endure the inability to cover their medical expenses from their own pockets.
“Pray for the judges to be able to see that there are those Kenyans who are in need of services because they are hypertensive, diabetic, have cancer but don’t have money to pay, pray for us, pray for the judges for the case to end,” said.
The Court of Appeal is expected on Friday next week to rule on whether it will suspend an order that stopped the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Act 2023.
Court of Appeal Judges Patrick Kiage, Pauline Nyamweya and Ngenye Macharia, however, on Wednesday declined to issue any interim relief pending the ruling as had been sought by Nakumicha.
Nakhumicha through Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia had urged the court to consider issuing temporary reliefs as they retire to write their ruling to alleviate the burden being experienced by patients countrywide owing to the effect the order has had.
Speaking on Saturday, the CS said the implementation of the reforms will commence immediately the case comes to an end.
“I want to commit to you Kenyans, I need two weeks for the case to end so that we start implementing the Health Insurance Act,” she said.
“With the new regulations, when CHPs come to your house you don’t pay anything, when you visit a dispensary or a health centre we don’t expect you to pay anything because the government has put in place measures to see to that so you can imagine somebody goes to court to stop Kenyans from benefitting from that.”
The High Court in November last year issued a conservatory order stopping implementation of the Act and fixed the case for hearing on February 7 this year.
