Real Reason Ruto Appointed Atwoli To Social Health Board Ahead Of Replacing NHIF
The Head of State through Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha appointed Atwoli as one of the pioneer members of the inaugural board, which will be chaired by Timothy Olweny for a period of three years.
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An uproar ensued on early Thursday morning, November 23 after President William Ruto hours ago appointed Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli to the newly-constituted Social Health Board as mandated through the Social Health Insurance Act.
The Head of State through Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha appointed Atwoli as one of the pioneer members of the inaugural board, which will be chaired by Timothy Olweny for a period of three years.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (1) (a) of the Social Health Insurance Act, I, William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces appointed Timothy Olweny to be the Chairperson of the Social Health Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 22nd November, 2023,’ the notice read in part.
President William Ruto and COTU boss Francis Atwoli during the Labour Day Celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on May 1, 2023. /PCS
Nakhumicha in the Gazette notice appointed Atwoli to the board, also to serve for three years, and he will work alongside Zakayo Kariuki and Kacinta Kathamu Mutegi.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (1) of the Social Health Insurance Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Health appoints-under paragraph (e)- Zakayo Kariuki Gichuki (Dr.), Under paragraph (h) (ii) Jacinta Kathamu Mutegi, under paragraph (h) (iv)- Francis Atwoli as members of the Social Health Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 22nd November 2023,” the statement read.
Kenyans however voiced their criticism towards the Head of State and his government from a political angle for favouring Atwoli more often, given that the COTU boss was a strong critic of President Ruto during the campaign period leading to the 2022 general elections.
Viral Tea obtained the Gazette Notice dated November 22 and observed that Atwoli was picked on the basis that he was appointed after being nominated by COTU, the same criteria applying to three other board members nominated by their own organisations.
Atwoli was appointed to the board as a representative of COTU, where he has served as secretary general for 22 years since his appointment in 2001.
This is now his third high-profile role handed to him by the Kenya Kwanza administration after Labour CS Florence Bore appointed Francis Atwoli as a member of the National Labour Board in May 2023.
Ruto also appointed Atwoli to a selection panel for the nomination and appointment of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The team went ahead to recommend Renson Mulele Ingonga as DPP.
The Social Health Insurance Act was one of four Universal Health Coverage bills that were signed into law by President Ruto on October 19. The bills included the Social Health Insurance Bill, the Primary Health Care Bill, the Facility Improvement Financing Bill, and the Digital Health Bill.
It is perhaps the Social Health Insurance Bill that carried the most significance since this is the one that is set to abolish the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) officially for the first time since 1966.
By revoking NHIF and replacing it, President Ruto is seeking to attain UHC as set out within his plan for a healthier nation espoused under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
In place of NHIF, Ruto created three funds namely Primary Health Care Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund, and Chronic Illness and Emergency Fund.
The Social Health Bill will now enable all Kenyans to access quality care, regardless of their financial status. This now means that Kenyans employed in the formal sector will make a monthly contribution of 2.75 per cent of their salary capped at a minimum of Ksh300 and a maximum of Ksh5,000.
The Primary Health Care Bill provides a framework for the management of healthcare networks and community health units.
The Facility Improvement Bill on the other hand will provide an accountable mechanism for the collection and management of funds raised from public health facilities.
The Digital Health Bill will digitize health services through a Comprehensive Integrated Management Information System (CIMIS). It will also enable the development of standards towards the provision of m-health, telemedicine, and e-learning in healthcare.
Social Health Insurance Act
President William Ruto signs four Universal Health Coverage Bills into law on October 19, 2023. /PCS
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