The Mountain Journal
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has strongly defended the Social Health Authority (SHA) from the claims made by the Opposition saying its working better than NHIF.
The Governor said that the law provides that the County governments must collaborate and consult with the National Government on development initiatives and programmes, and it was therefore her constitutional right to defend SHA since it’s working better for Kenyans.
Speaking at her office Kutus Headquarters, during the launch of Sh 129.5 million Bursaries and Free learning materials for ECDE learners, the Governor reiterated that SHA had registered over 30 million members nationally compared to less than 8 million who were registered with the defunct NHIF.
” Give Credit where it’s due; truth must be said, SHA may not be perfect, but it’s working, and there is always a room for improvement, ” she Said.
The Governor revealed that SHA had remitted Sh 440 million in compensation across Kirinyaga health facilities; the funds, she said, were critical in the procurement of drugs, equipment, and the upgrade of health infrastructure, adding that NHIF did not surpass 100million remittance, noting that SHA was making a great difference.
The Governor said that over 75 percent of the County residents had registered with the SHA, adding that despite its smaller size, the County ranks No.4 nationally in registration.
She urged the residents to continue registering in the health programme to secure their lives in times of need.
The Governor said that her administration had automated health systems across the County medical facilities, and it was therefore easier for her to know daily activities in the hospital from her office, including drugs used and purchased.
Waiguru used the forum to affirm that she was in two term movement to ensure that the Mountain region supported President William Ruto re-election in 2027.
” Kirinyaga has reaped many benefits from the National Government under President Ruto, the high Coffee payouts our County and country is witnessing is not by chance, but by deliberate efforts and interventions by the National and County gvt to revamp the Sector to benefit the citizens.
The Governor cautioned the region against being misled by the opposition to be out of Government after the general elections.
” Ruto is not going anywhere; it’s now for the mountain region to decide where they want to be in future, in gvt or out of the gvt.” Said Waiguru.
To win a Presidential election, she said, was not a small fit; it took President Ruto 10 years supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta to lay grounds of Succeeding him.
She said that the ODM has decided to leave the streets and get into the government and urged the mountain region not to take the privilege of being in the gvt for granted while other regions are fighting to align with the ruling coalition.
The Governor urged the mountain region not to throw their inheritance in President Ruto administration simply because some leaders from the Gvt had differed with the Ruling administration.
The second-term Gvt vowed to remain in the Gvt to secure development benefits for her region.
” Funds allocations in systems are scarce and not a guarantee, but a formula; we must have our people on the National decision table to push for our agenda, and that’s the reason i have made a deliberate decision to stick and negotiate for our region. ” She added.
The Governor said that the Opposition leaders accusing President Ruto administration were not better but only try to push and serve their interests.
She took a swipe at DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua, asking as to why he did not defend Uhuru Kenyatta when he was the Deputy President.
” Am Surprised that from nowhere the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has turned to be a great defender of Uhuru Kenyatta, but when his sheep were eaten and stolen in his time as Deputy President, he never uttered a word.
Waiguru said that some Opposition leaders have publicly admitted that it was not easy to remove Ruto.
She said it was hard for the opposition to agree on who to face off with Dr. Ruto, and 13 months to the election, she said the opposition had very limited options.
