Edwin Sifuna Tells Kenyans If SHA Refuses To Work To Call Ruto: “We Will Give You A Number”

President William Ruto previously said outpatient treatment under SHA is free and no hospital should charge patients
He urged Kenyans to call the police if any facility demands payment for outpatient services
However, Senator Edwin Sifuna opposed this order, accusing the government of neglecting the citizens
Sifuna questioned the performance of the SHA, citing mothers being detained and mounting unpaid bills

President William Rutoduring his working visit to Nakuru on October 29, reminded Kenyans that outpatient treatment under the Community Health Authority (SHA) is free.

Edwin Sifuna instructed Kenyans to call President William Ruto directly if he is arrested for medical bills. Photo: Edwin Sifuna, William Ruto.
Source: Facebook

He said no health facility has the right to demand payment from anyone registered under the scheme.

Ruto urged the public to call the police immediately if any hospital asks for money for outpatient care.

He noted that some facilities try to bill the patient and the government, and he asked Kenyans to help stop this practice by reporting such institutions.

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However, the Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna opposed the president’s order.

Speaking during the Senate session on Tuesday, November 18, Sifuna told Kenyans to report the abuses to the president himself. He said that the government has not shown much concern for the welfare of the citizens.

“I feel bad that Kenyans are alone. I want to encourage them by saying there is light ahead. We need a government that prioritizes the welfare of its people,” Sifuna said.

I don’t know what he told Kenyans to do if they are arrested because of SHA

He questioned where the reports of unpaid medical bills come from if the SHA is working, citing cases where mothers with babies are arrested because of hospital bills. He asked why the program does not cover these fees.

Sifuna ignored Ruto’s call for the police to intervene at the hospital.

“The truth cannot remain a secret. If SHA was working, we would not have seen statements like this in the Senate. The president should stop telling Kenyans to call the police. I want Kenyans to call the president instead,” he said.

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Sifuna also raised concerns about the recent order by the Nairobi County Government ordering health centers to abandon first tier banks and open accounts with Sidian Bank as their main bank.

He noted that Nairobi collected about KSh 1.3 billion in the last financial year, while Sidian Bank’s total deposits were only about KSh 50 million.

“If you compare Nairobi’s budget with the capacity of Sidian Bank, the county will be bigger than the bank. I have written to the governor asking for an explanation, but he has not responded,” he said.

Sifuna said he would give it to the Governor Johnson more time, but he insisted he would take him to the Senate to explain why he moved the county’s funds from a safe first-class bank to a small, underpowered institution.