While Uhuru’s big 4 agenda is fantastic, it has come at the expense of the taxpayer. It is literally the tax payer funding the government’s agenda. However the irony lies in this, with the affordable housing agenda, the government introduced a 1.5% tax on Kenyans monthly income to finance the low cost housing fund. Now, the universal healthcare agenda is going to cost the tax payer a lot more money.
There have now emerged allegation on social media that the government plans on increasing NHIF contributions by 2% to boost universal health coverage (UHC).
NHIF has 6.5 million beneficiaries and the government is seeking to double the figure within four years under the UHC programme whose three key elements are: high-quality health services, financial protection against any hardship to users of health services which may arise from out-of-pocket payments and equity in access to healthcare in terms of geographic coverage and the range of available health services.
However, amidst the speculation, the Ministry of Health has diplomatically denied the claims that there are plans to increase the NHIF contributions.
“The government does not intend to raise NHIF monthly deduction for workers to 2%; when time comes for any increase, public participation, including that of the workers will be undertaken. Pls ensure we do not mislead the public," @MOH_Kenya CS @SicilyKariuki @PDUDelivery
— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) November 15, 2018
“The government does not intend to raise NHIF monthly deduction for workers to 2%; when time comes for any increase, public participation, including that of the workers will be undertaken. Pls ensure we do not mislead the public @MOH_Kenya CS @SicilyKariuki @PDUDelivery,” read the tweet.
KOT have shown their dissatisfaction in the alleged raise of NHIF monthly deductions especially in the middle of an economic crisis that has seen the cost of living in Kenya rise.
We must all rise to stop Uhuru n jubilee from taking all our income.First the tax that we are paying,the NHIF cut etc is being stolen.And now Uhuru wants to increase NHIF on top of Housing fund.Its time for revolution!
— Mulembe Nation Facts™🇰🇪 (@wafulakhayota) November 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/ItsBravin/status/1063071258441641984
So, this government is planning to increase my NHIF contributions up to 2% of my salary? For what? For the pathetic services being offered? When will the robbers in this government stop looking for all means possible to loot from us? When?
— juma G. 🇰🇪 (@jumaf3) November 15, 2018
What's the logic of raising NHIF contribution yet our health care facilities are understaffed, lacks necessary facilities and medicine. It's all about looting and more looting
— Ezra Simiyu (@simiyu_ezra) November 15, 2018
Well, Kenyans can only hope that these are just rumours or a bad dream altogether. Most Kenyans believe that the Ministry of Health first needs to deal with more ‘serious’ issues like improving the quality of services in healthcare facilities before they can think of increasing NHIF contributions.
With the income tax introduced on housing and now the alleged raise in NHIF contributions, Kenyans are bound to feel the pinch in their pay checks.
Do you think the Government’s big 4 agenda is too ambitious and beyond our means as a country?