Kenyans on social media platforms have been on a frenzy after it emerged that President Uhuru Kenyatta gave an invalid medical card when he met football legend Joe Kadenge.
Drama started after a keen social media user noticed that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) card issued to Kadenge was dated to be valid from the 8th Day of March 2017.
The reality sparked reactions with social media users accusing the president of playing a public relations gimmick with the star.
After footbridge, @UKenyatta picks another L issuing Kadenge with an invalid NHIF card that activates in 3 months time. PR flop pic.twitter.com/eo21v2eZjm
— Kenya West© (@KinyanBoy) January 10, 2017
Soccer legend Kadenge's NHIF card is valid 3 months from now.
He has to postpone his sickness for now pic.twitter.com/qNl4qKj3jH— O.J Otieno (@j84mad) January 10, 2017
I didn't know that even NHIF card can be launched at individual level. Happened to Joe Kadenge. Haaa
— Dikembe (@Disembe) January 9, 2017
Kenyans.co.ke contacted the NHIF where they confirmed that the card doing rounds on social media was indeed genuine.
They clarified that the card was not invalid but was in line with their procedures where users start receiving services two months after they are registered.
In the case of Kadenge, the President gave him the card on 8th January and will qualify to receive services from March.
“The card is not invalid. If you register today for NHIF membership, you will start receiving services after 60 days,” an officer from NHIF confirmed.
Kenyatta made an impromptu visit to Kadenge’s South B home after the retired footballer expressed a wish to meet him.
Apart from the comprehensive insurance card from NHIF, the President gave the legend Sh2 Million to cater for the emergency medical expenses.
The celebrated footballer has been struggling with diabetes and respiratory complications.
