Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah on Tuesday filed a petition challenging the official rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) slated for today, October 1.
Taking to his X account, Omtatah announced that alongside two others: Eliud Matindi and Magare Gikenyi he had taken to court to not only quash the launch of SHIF but also quash the government’s contract with several service providers facilitating the deal.
“The subsidiary legislation to operationalise the Social Health Insurance Act is not in place, rendering the implementation of the SHIF unconstitutional,” he elaborated.
About the consortium contracted by the government comprising of three private entities, Omtatah and his fellow petitioners are asking the court to suspend and eventually annul their contract with the government.
A collage of Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and a person holding personal notes
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The companies have been contracted to provide Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System for Universal Health Care.
This deals another blow to the highly contested SHIF which continues to experience legal headwinds with various stakeholders contesting the legality of the fund’s establishment.
Kenyans have also lashed out at the confusion the program’s roll out creates. On September 30,DJ Krowbar took to social media to decry the negative effects the rollout has had on the healthcare industry and patients.
He explained that his wife had been notified that starting October 1, she would need to cough up the hefty amount for her dialysis treatment out-of-pocket as her health insurance would not be considered.
The outcry spread fast leading people all across social media to implore the government to intervene and stop the rollout.
Social Health Authority (SHA) CEO, Elijah Wachira would subsequently release a statement to all hospitals clarifying that all dialysis and other major treatments continue being provided.
“Further to my earlier letter on the above subject matter, kindly further note that:- No member will be denied Dialysis and Cancer services, Maternity services should not be denied in KEPH level 2 and 3, and Active Managed schemes should continue accessing services.” his letter to hospitals read.
Private hospitals have also been left in the dark in the new model having not been offered any formal contracts by the government.
Health Cabinet Secretary Debra Barasa when she appeared before Parliament in July 2024 for vetting before her eventual appointment.
