The Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every Kenyan has access to affordable, quality healthcare while accelerating development projects across Kirinyaga County and in the entire country.
Speaking at Kerugoya Girls High School during a public sensitization forum for Nyota program, the PS emphasized that the government remains steadfast in its mission to strengthen healthcare delivery systems and ensuring accountability in public service.
Muthoni said the transition from the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority marks a major milestone in the country’s health reform agenda, designed to expand coverage, enhance service delivery, and introduce efficiency across all levels of healthcare.
“We are not backtracking on SHA. Healthcare reform has no finish line; we will keep on making it better. The government is listening, responsive, and determined to provide a health system that works for all Kenyans,” she said.
The PS underscored that essential programs such as Linda Mama have not been scrapped but strengthened to offer a broader range of services to mothers and infants.
“No one said Linda Mama was a bad program. What we have done is to enhance what already existed and make it better,” she added.
Muthoni disclosed that the government has already established a Benefits and Tariffs Committee to continuously review healthcare packages and ensure they align with current medical needs and globally best practices.
Citing progress made under the new structure, she revealed that the cancer treatment package has been increased from Sh300,000 to Sh550,000, a move that is expected to ease the financial burden on thousands of families battling the disease.
“We are only one year into SHA implementation, yet we have already seen significant progress. NHIF operated for six decades but faced major operational challenges, while SHA has introduced transparency, efficiency, and accountability in its first year,” she said.
The PS cautioned health facilities against charging patients who are already registered under the new system, insisting that administrative issues between the Ministry and service providers should not be passed on to patients.
“When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. Let’s not make patients victims of administrative disputes. Registered members should receive services at Levels 1, 2, 3, and sub-county hospitals without extra charges,” she stated.
She urged Kenyans to register for SHA by dialing #147#, saying registration will guarantee access to comprehensive medical services under the government’s universal healthcare plan.
Muthoni assured citizens that the Ministry of Health remains open to feedback and is committed to clarifying issues raised by the public to strengthen confidence in the ongoing reforms.
“Let us mobilize our people to understand their rights and entitlements under SHA. The government is always ready to provide answers where questions arise,” she noted.
Turning to development matters, the PS highlighted several projects being implemented across Kirinyaga County under President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying the region continues to benefit from targeted government investments.
She revealed that under the Hustler Fund, more than 316,000 residents in Kirinyaga have accessed loans amounting to over Sh1.1 billion, empowering small business owners and promoting financial inclusion at the grassroots level.
The PS also said that through the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, the government has spent more than Sh500 million, connecting 6,212 households to the national electricity grid and improving livelihoods through enhanced access to power.
On housing, Muthoni announced that the Affordable Housing Projects in Gichugu Constituency are at 99 percent completion, while those in Kirinyaga Central are at 95 percent, creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for the youth.
She added that the government is upgrading several key trading markets across the county, including Kibingoti and Kagio markets in Ndia, Mukarara, Kianyaga, and Mbirii markets in Gichugu, as well as Kimbimbi, Wamumu, and Kiumbu markets in Mwea Constituency.
“In Kirinyaga Central, the construction of the modern Kerugoya Market is underway, and once complete, it will serve as a major trading hub for farmers, traders, and small business owners,” she said.
The PS said the national government has also prioritized investment in institutional housing for police officers, prison staff, and educational institutions such as Tvet to enhance service delivery and improve living conditions.
Muthoni further revealed that the government has identified 13 milk coolers for installation in various parts of the county to support dairy farmers, promote value addition, and reduce post-harvest losses.
She said the upcoming County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) and the Sagana Export Processing Zone (EPZ) will play a pivotal role in boosting industrialization, creating employment, and opening new markets for locally produced goods.
“The establishment of the Industrial Park will provide opportunities for our youth, especially those under the Nyota Program, to engage in value addition, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship,” she remarked.
Muthoni emphasized that the government is people-centered, responsive to citizens’ needs, and focused on implementing projects that directly improve livelihoods rather than engaging in empty political debates.
“We are a listening government able to identify challenges and correct them in good time. Kirinyaga is not short of development projects, and our aim is to ensure every citizen benefits from the government’s transformative agenda,” she said.
The PS called on residents to support government programs and remain united in pursuit of progress, adding that development must always take precedence over political interests.
“We do not want politics; we want progress. Let us work together, tell the story of what the government is doing, and build a better, prosperous future for our people,” she concluded.
By David Wandeto
