'Taifa Care is working, ignore political detractors,' Waiguru urges Kenyans

Speaking at an event for the launch and distribution of digital healthcare devices—attended by outgoing Medical Services PS Harry Kimtai and Presidential Economic Advisor Moses Kuria—Governor Waiguru encouraged citizens to register in large numbers to benefit from the initiative.

According to Governor Waiguru, Taifa Care is already transforming healthcare in Kenya.

"There are people going around the media saying Taifa Care is not working, I have not responded yet because this is the time to work and work hard to fulfil our pledges," said Waiguru.

She added: "If they want to know if Taifa Care is working or not then they should come to Kirinyaga and see for themselves what Taifa Care agenda is doing."

Governor Waiguru highlighted that Taifa Care is enhancing service delivery by ensuring accessible, high-quality, and affordable healthcare for all Kenyans.

"Because of the roll-out of this system I am able to monitor and analyze what is happening in hospitals in my computer, I am able to see how many patients are visiting each of our facilities, analyze the demand and tie it up with the supplies that are required," the Governor said.

She also noted that digitization under Taifa Care has significantly boosted revenue collection in county health facilities.

"We were struggling in collection of revenue in county health facilities where we have been collecting between Ksh.130 million and Ksh.140 million but this year we gave ourselves a target of Ksh.200 million and you know what, March is not even over and we have surpassed our target," she said, adding that they are projecting revenue collection to reach Ksh.300 million by June.

Waiguru attributed this success to the Taifa Care agenda and Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursements.

"This is only possible through Taifa Care agenda and Social Health Authority (SHA) repayments. By the way, by yesterday, SHA had paid us Ksh.75 million against Ksh.103 million," she pointed out.

"Do not listen to politicians, (they are going to mislead you) they have their own covers yet they are telling you not to register," she said, adding: "Luckily for us, our people are registering in big numbers and I know we're not number two in the country but number one," Waiguru said.

Presidential Economic Advisor Moses Kuria echoed Waiguru’s sentiments, stating that the government remains committed to making Taifa Care a success despite opposition.

"We are ignoring the noise for now and working hard to ensure that Taifa Care becomes a success and you can already see the fruits from the numbers we have," he said.

"People should stop following politicians who are hell-bent on misleading them yet they have their own medical insurance... a time will come when we will go to the ground and take them head on there because they are becoming irresponsible," Kuria added.

He also praised public health facilities for fully embracing Taifa Care, noting that they are benefiting significantly from SHA payments.

"From the chart, you can see where the money is going, public health facilities in Kirinyaga are taking up to 75 percent of SHA because they have embraced it fully," he said.

Kuria dismissed the notion that opposing SHA would bring back the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

"It is irresponsible for anybody to think that by fighting SHA, NHIF will come back, that will not happen today, tomorrow or in the future so let us join hands and make SHA work," the President's Advisor said.