Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu is interested in learning how a payment of Ksh172 million to the Social Health Authority (SHA) for the county’s flagship health insurance program, Kang’ata Care, was spent.
The senator has asked the Senate Health Committee to look into how the funds were used, the households covered, and whether they were spent on taking care of vulnerable households.
“Murang’a residents require accountability on the use of these funds. Kang’ata Care was launched to lower the cost of health care for needy families, but we must ensure that each shilling gets to the intended beneficiaries,” Nyutu said.
Kang’ata Care was initiated in 2023 by Governor Irungu Kang’ata and is a partnership between the county government and a local insurance firm. It offers inpatient, outpatient, maternity, as well as last expense benefits to families that are enrolled.
The county pays yearly premiums for the households that are enrolled with a view to making health care affordable to the residents of different income levels.
Nyutu sought to understand the current number of households covered, total beneficiaries, and the situation of pending expense claims that were previously covered by the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
He also inquired about the amount of money the county pays for each household and cost-sharing arrangements between the county, the insurer, and SHA.
Additionally, the senator asked whether the health scheme is renewed every year automatically or requires re-registration, and whether there are age limits for the beneficiaries.
“This is not politics; this is accountability and service delivery,” Nyutu went on. “Murang’a residents entrusted this programme to offer quality healthcare. We must ensure that trust is not eroded.”
In December 2024, Murang’a County signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Social Health Authority to extend universal health coverage to 31,416 poor households.
The beneficiaries under the agreement would get inpatient and outpatient services, maternity and emergency services, and medication for chronic and critical illnesses in accredited facilities within the county.
While Nyutu acknowledged that Kang’ata Care is a great concept with the potential to transform access to health in Murang’a, he demanded proper monitoring to prevent misappropriation of funds and the programme achieving its objectives.
