President William Ruto has announced changes in the National Health Insurance Fund saying the lowest monthly contribution will be slashed by Sh200 from the next financial year.
While delivering his Labour Day speech on Monday at Uhuru Gardens, Ruto said the lowest paid workers and self-employed contributors will from July pay Sh300 down from the current Sh500.
“Wale ambao mlikuwa mnalipa kwa NHIF Sh500 sasa tutateremsha chini ikuje Sh300. Na mimi ambaye ni rais nimekuwa nikilipa Sh1,000 sasa mimi nitalipa Sh27,500,” he said.
(Those who have been paying Sh500 to NHIF, we will reduce that to Sh300. And for me as President who has been paying Sh1,000 will be paying Sh27,500)
The President said this is meant to promote an equitable contribution mechanism.
“Everyone one of us is going to contribute 2.7 per cent of their earning to NHIF so that we can carry this load of health equally,” he said.
The change was among the promises Ruto made in September, 2022.
The President added that the new plan was going to ensure that patients are treated at health facilities near their residences.
“So we have a deliberate plan on how we are going to change how we deliver health in the Republic of Kenya because that is the timely intervention that is necessary for our republic at this point in time,” Ruto said.
