Members of Parliament (MPs) are set to hold a special meeting (Kamukunji) on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at Parliament Buildings to address ongoing challenges in the rollout of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme under the Social Health Authority (SHA). Concerns from constituents regarding service delivery, coordination between national and county governments, and the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) have prompted this engagement.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula confirmed that the meeting follows requests from Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mulongo and other health sector stakeholders. The discussion will focus on overcoming teething problems in SHA implementation and ensuring smooth transition and effective delivery of UHC services.
“The Ministry of Health rolled out the UHC programme on October 1, 2024. While initial progress is positive, several challenges have been reported by Members on behalf of their constituents. CS Mulongo will meet with Members to provide updates and discuss solutions,” said Speaker Wetang’ula.
In a post on his official X account, Speaker Wetang’ula noted, “Members of Parliament will convene for a Kamukunji on Tuesday, 3rd December 2024, to discuss challenges in implementing the Universal Health Coverage programme. Health CS Deborah Mulongo and health sector stakeholders will address Members, providing updates on the NHIF-SHIF transition.”
The SHIF programme has faced criticism since replacing NHIF, with Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba citing poor coordination between national and county governments as a key implementation barrier. The upcoming meeting is expected to provide a platform for MPs and health officials to resolve these issues and streamline the UHC rollout.
