Omtatah Challenges Government’s SHIF Rollout in Court , Terms it Unconstitutional
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has taken a bold stand against the government’s plan to roll out the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) today, October 1. Omtatah filed a petition in court, asserting that the launch of SHIF is unconstitutional due to the absence of necessary legislative frameworks.
In a post on his X account, Omtatah announced that he and his co-petitioners, Eliud Matindi and Magare Gikenyi, are seeking to quash both the launch of SHIF and the government’s contract with several private entities involved in its implementation.
“The subsidiary legislation to operationalize the Social Health Insurance Act is not in place, rendering the implementation of the SHIF unconstitutional,” he stated, highlighting the legal gaps that he believes jeopardize the initiative.
The trio’s petition targets a consortium of three private firms contracted to develop an Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System for Universal Health Care, a crucial aspect of the SHIF.
Omtatah’s move is seen as part of a broader pushback against what many view as a flawed health insurance rollout, which has already faced significant legal challenges from various stakeholders.
The rollout has also sparked public outrage. Kenyans took to social media to voice their concerns, particularly after DJ Krowbar shared a distressing story about his wife’s health care. “Starting October 1, my wife was told she would need to pay out-of-pocket for her dialysis treatment because her health insurance would not be accepted,” he lamented. This revelation intensified calls for the government to halt the rollout.
In response to the rising tension, Social Health Authority (SHA) CEO Elijah Wachira released a statement to all hospitals, reassuring them that essential services, including dialysis and cancer treatments, would still be available. “No member will be denied Dialysis and Cancer services, and maternity services should not be denied in KEPH level 2 and 3,” his letter emphasized.
Despite these reassurances, private hospitals remain confused and uninformed about the new model, having yet to receive formal contracts from the government. The uncertainty surrounding SHIF continues to raise alarm among healthcare providers and patients alike, as the court’s decision looms.
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Omtatah Challenges Government’s SHIF Rollout in Court , Terms it Unconstitutional
