By Eddah Waithaka
In a statement today, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura emphasized the Kenyan government’s commitment to ensuring affordable and reliable healthcare for all citizens through its flagship Taifa Care program, which has successfully registered over 17 million Kenyans since its launch.
However, recent investigations have uncovered troubling discrepancies between approvals granted by the State Health Authority (SHA) and alarming reports from patients facing cash payment demands at various hospitals. This situation raises concerns about the implementation of the program and its effectiveness in delivering the promised benefits to the populace.
“This practice is both illegal and fraudulent, undermining the integrity of our healthcare system and causing unnecessary financial strain on Kenyans. To address this, the government is implementing measures to ensure every registered member of Taifa Care can access transparent information about payments made for their medical care. We urge all Kenyans to report any such malpractice using the SHA toll-free numbers, where prompt action will be taken. While approvals may take some time to process, these safeguards are necessary to prevent fraud, as seen previously with NHIF, where fake claims resulted in massive pending bills,” said Mwaura.
Additionally, the government calls on the Clinical Officers to engage in constructive dialogue at the negotiation table instead of resorting to striking, which jeopardize the lives of Kenyans.
“We recognize and value the critical role healthcare workers play in our society, and we are committed to resolving issues amicably to ensure uninterrupted service delivery,” Mwaura added.
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Further, on matters towards education, Mwaura noted that the Ministry of Education has procured 9,926,618 textbooks for Grade 9 learners, which have already been distributed to schools.
“To ensure all learners have access to the required materials, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has been directed to make certain that textbooks and instructional materials are adequately available in all schools. Further, with the release of the 2024 KCSE results, the government has introduced a midyear KCSE exam series, starting in July 2025,” read the press statement.
This initiative is designed to support students who wish to retake the exams or those who may have missed them due to illness or hardship, ensuring a smooth transition during the remaining years of the 8-4-4 system. Additionally, efforts are underway to integrate orbit readers and gradually phase out braille machines for candidates with visual impairments, demonstrating the government’s commitment to inclusivity.
