President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday met a section of governors at State House to discuss the implementation of universal healthcare, one of the pillars in his second term as president.
While it remains unclear why the other governors could not attend the meeting, the President and the governors announced a strategy to ensure the initiative is met.
The team agreed to begin with a pilot in 4 counties, where the national government would facilitate 100 percent adoption of universal healthcare.
A number of other counties also requested to be considered for the trial of the programme and were promised consideration.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta during meeting with governors"]
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According to a statement from the Office of the President, governors and Kenya’s international partners agreed that there is sufficient money in the economy to implement universal healthcare for all within the next five years.
The statement, however, explained that the stakeholders agitated for greater reform of the systems to ensure that maximum benefits are derived from the money available.
Other than the universal healthcare for all President Kenyatta has endeavoured to build 500,000 new homes, provide food security and nutrition and significantly increase the contribution of manufacturing in the economy as his "Big Four" second-term agenda.
Council of Governors Health Committee Chair, Mohamed Kuti (Isiolo Governor) and the Council’s Vice Chairperson, Anne Waiguru of Kirinyaga are among those who attended the President's meeting.
“Health and food security are important elements in our effort to improve the lives of our people.
"Fixing these things will have a huge impact on the lives of Kenyans. Let’s work together to deliver on these," the President told the governors.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta chairing meeting with 11 governors"]
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Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki was appointed to co-chair a committee looking at all elements required to make universal healthcare a roaring success and will report back within two weeks. Timing for the pilot project will be fixed after that.
