Dr. Raymond Omollo, principal secretary for interior, stated that the successful implementation of the social health insurance fund will alleviate legislators’ burden of fund-drives for medical bills.
Dr. Omollo said that most Kenyan families have been forced into poverty after exhausting their savings and even selling their property just to take care of their ailing members, something that the new fund, dubbed Taifa Care is seeking to cure.
Speaking at Nina primary school grounds in North Alego location, Siaya County during a government outreach programme organized by the attorney general, Dorcas Oduor where government services were taken to the people in the grassroots.
“This programme is not just helping the common mwananchi. It is also helping those who are privileged” said the PS who was flanked by among others members of parliament Samuel Atandi (Alego – Usonga) and his Nyando counterpart, Jared Okello. Hence, the PS called on all Kenyans to register in large numbers so as to make it a success.
While, addressing the occasion, legislators Atandi and Okello differed over the issue of alleged abductions, with the Alego – Usonga MP saying that some of the reported cases could be a ploy to tarnish the image of the government.
On the other hand, according to Atandi, some of the cases were not genuine and were being used by government opponents to gain political mileage. Atandi disagrees with friends on abductions, stating some cases are propaganda. Thus, urging the government to investigate genuine cases and stop the vice.
Nyando MP, Jared Okello who had spoken earlier, had called on the government to stop the vice which, he added, had left families with immeasurable pain. Meanwhile, Okello said the constitution, under the bill of rights, gave Kenyans freedom of speech and expression which must be respected.
He called on president Ruto to act swiftly and nip the question of abductions in the bud by being in the forefront of a probe into the incidents. “If the abductions are done by foreigners, action must be taken to put a stop to it as we are a sovereign nation” said Okello.
The two day event saw several government departments, among them Social Health Authority, State Law Office, Directorate of criminal investigations and national registration bureau take their services to the residents of North Alego.
By Philip Onyango
