The introduction of the Social Health Authority (SHA) by the government of Kenya was meant to bring relief to low-income families who struggled to afford healthcare services. However, for Gideon Kemboi from Mogotio Constituency, Baringo County, the promise of affordable medical care remains unfulfilled as he battles to save his child from a severe heart condition.
Kemboi, a farmer, had high hopes when he registered under the SHA scheme, trusting that it would offer the support he desperately needed to address his child’s medical needs. His child, born with a heart condition, has required ongoing treatment since birth. The family had been encouraged by President William Ruto’s assurance that the new health cover would improve access to healthcare for low-income earners. Unfortunately, despite their registration under the scheme, the Kemboi family has received no financial assistance to cover the mounting medical bills.
With few options left, Kemboi was forced to sell a parcel of land and some personal assets to finance the medical care of his child. The family has gone to great lengths, including organizing harambees (community fundraisers), but the funds raised are nowhere near enough to cover the estimated Ksh. 2 million required for the open heart surgery that could save the child’s life.
During a recent visit to their home in Emening, the Kemboi family expressed their frustration. They showed medical records from various health facilities that confirm their child’s dire condition, but no help has been forthcoming from the health scheme. Kemboi’s wife, Mary Lagat, has spent sleepless nights moving from one hospital to another, only to be met with high treatment costs and no clear path to assistance.
The family is now calling on Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa to intervene. The Kembois believe that the promise of SHA, which was meant to alleviate the financial burden of medical care, has not lived up to expectations. With their resources exhausted, they hope for urgent intervention from the government to help them access the critical care their child needs.
As the child’s health continues to deteriorate, the Kembois are growing increasingly desperate. The government’s assurances must now be backed by action to ensure that families like the Kembois can access the medical care they are entitled to under the SHA, fulfilling the promise of improved healthcare for all Kenyans.
