Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) and Chairperson of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), Gathoni Wamuchomba, has called for an urgent parliamentary session to address the deteriorating state of Kenya’s healthcare system. In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, Wamuchomba raised alarm over the country’s healthcare challenges, calling on lawmakers to take immediate action to safeguard citizens’ constitutional rights to life, dignity, and healthcare.
Wamuchomba’s concerns come at a time when Kenya’s healthcare system is grappling with multiple issues, including poor infrastructure, lack of essential services, and inefficiencies in both national and county health systems. The MP argues that the government has failed to deliver on its promise of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which has left citizens suffering from inadequate healthcare services.
“The health of every Kenyan is in crisis,” Wamuchomba stated. “The government has failed to deliver on its promise of Universal Health Coverage, and citizens continue to suffer due to poor health infrastructure, lack of essential services, and widespread inefficiencies. It is time Parliament acts.”
One of the key points of concern highlighted by Wamuchomba is the underwhelming performance of the UHC pilot program that was launched in 2018. The pilot, which initially took off in Nyeri, Kisumu, Machakos, and Isiolo counties, was meant to serve as a precursor to the nationwide roll-out of the UHC initiative. However, the program faced numerous setbacks, with only Machakos and Isiolo counties making some progress. Nyeri and Kisumu, on the other hand, faced significant challenges, with Nyeri eventually dropping out of the pilot due to financial constraints.
Wamuchomba criticized the UHC pilot as a “failed experiment” and pointed out that it had not yielded any meaningful successes. She also noted that there were no lessons learned from the pilot to guide the national implementation of UHC.
“The pilot never saw any meaningful success, and no lessons were learned to guide its nationwide implementation,” Wamuchomba added, further accusing the program of being marred by mismanagement of funds, lack of transparency, and poor communication between national and county governments.
Another key issue raised by Wamuchomba is the lack of information available to citizens about their enrollment status in the UHC program. According to the MP, many citizens were left unaware of whether they were enrolled in the program, while essential information about the UHC initiative was not properly communicated to the public. This lack of clarity has contributed to the widespread confusion and disillusionment surrounding the program.
Beyond the UHC program, Wamuchomba also emphasized the broader state of Kenya’s health facilities, which she described as being “in crisis.” Hospitals across the country continue to suffer from a lack of medical staff, chronic drug shortages, and outdated equipment, all of which undermine the effectiveness of the healthcare system. Wamuchomba stressed that building new health facilities would not solve the existing challenges and that attention must first be given to addressing the deep-rooted issues within the current healthcare system.
“Our hospitals are in crisis. The lack of medical staff, persistent drug shortages, and outdated equipment have become commonplace,” Wamuchomba said. “We need to first address the issues in the current system, only then will we see meaningful improvements.”
In addition to these concerns, Wamuchomba raised the issue of the ongoing legal battles surrounding the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), a crucial component of the UHC program. In July 2024, the High Court ruled that some provisions of the Social Health Insurance Act (SHIA), the Digital Health Act (DHA), and the Primary Health Care Act (PHCA) were unconstitutional. The court gave Parliament 120 days to amend these provisions, but Wamuchomba pointed out that this critical step has yet to be taken, further delaying progress in the implementation of the healthcare system.
The MP also criticized the slow progress in getting county governments to sign the necessary agreements to implement the SHIF, leaving essential healthcare services in limbo. Many counties have yet to sign the required Intergovernmental Participatory Agreements (IPAs), which are necessary for the smooth rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund.
“We cannot afford to delay any longer. Many health facilities are struggling because county governments have not signed the required Intergovernmental Participatory Agreements (IPAs), leaving essential services in limbo,” Wamuchomba said.
Wamuchomba has called for Parliament to prioritize the debate on the state of the healthcare system and has urged the House to adjourn its business on November 12, 2024, to allow for this critical discussion. She emphasized the urgency of the matter, highlighting the suffering of ordinary citizens who are unable to access proper healthcare services.
“Our people are suffering. We must not wait any longer. I urge all MPs to come together and take immediate action to address this crisis,” she concluded.
As the call for action grows louder, it remains to be seen whether Parliament will heed Wamuchomba’s plea and prioritize a comprehensive debate on the health system. The stakes are high, and with Kenya’s healthcare crisis worsening, swift and decisive action from lawmakers is needed to avert further suffering and to ensure that the promise of Universal Health Coverage is fulfilled.
