Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has predicted the fall of the proposed Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and that it will not last for long.
According to the Senator, SHIF which has been formed to replace NHIF will only burden Kenyans who are already grappling with the rising number of taxes in the country.
Speaking on Monday morning, Ledama noted that the new health scheme will be full of corrupt individuals who will take the government through endless court battles.
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“All these pieces of legislation are sponsored by special interests, companies out there and you’ll find that some of the companies that will be given those contracts are associated with very senior politicians.
We are behaving as if we live in a first world forgetting that we live in a dilapidated, corrupt environment in which we are led by sycophants. This will collapse, there will be a myriad of cases, people filing lawsuits on a daily basis.” he said
Defending the government was South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro who said that the purpose of the new fund is to ensure that every Kenyan is covered up to a level where health services in the country will be completely free.
“We want to get to a level where getting health services is almost entirely free because you have contributed you can walk into any hospital and get services.” he said
Osoro however admitted that the biggest hurdle facing SHIF are poorly equipped hospitals that will hinder service delivery.
If the scheme is to sail through, salaried Kenyans will be taxed 2.75% of their gross salaries and unsalaried Kenyans will pay Ksh 300 down from Ksh 500 under NHIF.