Don't Hide: Govt To Spy On Kenyans' Income Ahead Of SHIF Rollout [VIDEO]
Nakhumicha explained how the government will collect contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) ahead of its official rollout.
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Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha is appealing to Kenyans to be honest with their economic status, teasing plans by the government to monitor and determine their income.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Sunday, June 9, Nakhumicha explained how the government will collect contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) ahead of its official rollout.
Regarding the formula, the CS revealed that the government will observe what she called the economic characteristics of every unemployed or self-employed Kenyan to determine how they will remit 2.75 per cent of their income to the fund.
You cannot hide your economic characteristics. If I look at the watch you are wearing, I can do an estimate of what your income is. Declare your income yourself- CS Susan Nakhumicha#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/gcHh0CFhPH — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) June 9, 2024
"There are things that as a human being you can hide and cannot hide. You cannot hide your economic characteristics. If I look at the watch that you are wearing, I can give an estimate of what your income is without you telling me.
"I want to speak to Kenyans and tell them there are things you cannot hide. If you live in a grass-thatched house, you cannot hide. If you live in a tiled house, there are things that you'll do and somebody will know that as much as you want to look like you don't earn, this is your level of income," she said.
Though challenged on the decision by Kenyans to pay less through the self-declaration method during the SHIF registration, Nakhumicha alleged inbuilt mechanisms in the self-declaration that align with the digital environment.
According to her, Kenyans these days do not carry cash wherever they go and conduct transactions through mobile money, among others, a matter she believes would make it easier for the government to determine Kenyans' true incomes without their knowledge.
She thus urged Kenyans to be sincere with how much they are earning given that it is their health at stake.
"You don’t have to hide, this is your health, take care of your health. Declare your income yourself, the tool will tabulate the 2.75 percent and what we are promising is a consistent benefit package that everyone is going to benefit from.
"Do not lie about yourself because when you get sick, you'll expect to be taken care of. If you did lie, who will take care of you? If everybody lied about their income, then what happens? I think as a nation this is now the time that we get into a space where we speak truth to ourselves," she added.
She further clarified that those who have been contributing to NHIF will see their funds moved to SHIF, dismissing fears that Kenyans are likely to lose their contributions in the new move.
"We are going into a registration exercise, it is like an affirmation of your details and should they have changed, then this is an opportunity to change.
"The data we have of Kenyans who are already on NHIF have already been uploaded onto the system, this will just be an affirmation. If you are a new person then you start the registration process afresh," she added.
SHIF is expected to roll out in the next three weeks, and President William Ruto is expected to launch the registration exercise in the course of this period.
