‘SHIF Is Unconstitutional!’ – Okiya Omtatah Goes To Court To Stop SHA Implementation
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah filed a petition on Tuesday challenging the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF)’s official rollout, which is scheduled for today, October 1.
Omtatah announced on his X account that he, along with two others, Eliud Matindi and Magare Gikenyi, had filed a lawsuit to not only halt the launch of SHIF but also to cancel the government’s contract with several service providers that were facilitating the deal.
“The subsidiary legislation to operationalise the Social Health Insurance Act is not in place, rendering the implementation of the SHIF unconstitutional,” he elaborated.
Omtatah and his fellow petitioners are requesting that the court suspend and eventually cancel the government’s contract with a consortium made up of three private entities.
Filed a court petition together with Eliud Matindi & Magare Gikenyi to stop the launch of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), we also seek to quash the contract between the government and the Safaricom Consortium, citing concerns over the lack of legislation to… pic.twitter.com/Y2rEfMOeE3
— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) October 1, 2024
The companies have been hired to develop an Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System for Universal Health Care.
This is another setback for the hotly contested SHIF, which is still facing legal challenges from a variety of stakeholders who question the fund’s legitimacy.
Kenyans have also expressed concern about the program’s implementation, which has caused confusion.
On September 30, DJ Krowbar took to social media to criticize the rollout’s negative impact on the healthcare industry and patients.
SHIF Registration. Enough is enough. @MOH_Kenya pic.twitter.com/Nkivh4BRvB
— DJ KROWBAR (@DJKrowbar) September 30, 2024
He explained that his wife had been informed that beginning October 1, she would have to pay the hefty amount for her dialysis treatment out of pocket because her health insurance would not be covered.
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The outcry spread quickly, prompting people all over social media to urge the government to intervene and halt the rollout.
“Further to my earlier letter on the above subject matter, kindly further note that:- No member will be denied Dialysis and Cancer services, Maternity services should not be denied in KEPH levels 2 and 3, and Active Managed schemes should continue accessing services.” his letter to hospitals read.
Private hospitals have also been kept in the dark in the new model having not been offered any formal contracts by the government.
‘SHIF Is Unconstitutional!’ – Okiya Omtatah Goes To Court To Stop SHA Implementation
