By Ongaga Ongaga
President William Ruto has urged unregistered Kenyans to join the Social Health Authority (SHA) and benefit from the new national health insurance scheme.
He noted that SHA has eliminated the need for families to sell valuable assets to meet high medical costs, saying citizens can now access treatment in hospitals without paying upfront.
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According to the President, increased registration will enable the government to better plan healthcare delivery, including the recruitment of medical personnel and the distribution of equipment across facilities.
“When you register for SHA, the government is in a stronger position to determine the number of health workers to hire and the equipment required in different hospitals,” he said.
He revealed that since its rollout in October 2024, SHA has disbursed KSh5 billion to hospitals in Kisii County for services rendered.
The President made the remarks in Bomachoge Borabu, Kisii County, during an inspection of the KSh75 million Mogonga Modern Market project.
He said the facility will offer traders a clean and secure working environment, shielding them from harsh weather conditions.
“Our traders have long operated in poor conditions, exposed to rain, dust and intense sun. We committed to improving this, and that is exactly what we are doing,” he said.
Initially budgeted at KSh55 million, the market received an additional KSh20 million to expand its capacity and accommodate more traders.
The expansion will see the facility upgraded into a two-storey structure, with plans for another market in the area also underway.
In Nyaribari Masaba, the President commissioned a separate KSh55 million market designed to host 300 traders. The facility will include an ICT hub, cold storage units and a hall for community events.
“Soon, residents will not need to travel far to access government services. The ICT hub within the market will allow access to essential services such as applications for birth certificates and national IDs,” he said.
As he continued his third day of a four-day development tour of the Gusii region, the President highlighted key government achievements.
He said 41,000 households in Kisii County have been connected to electricity over the past three years, with an additional KSh2 billion set aside this year to link 28,000 more homes.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to nationwide electrification, ensuring no area is left behind.
The President also noted ongoing collaboration between the National Government and Kisii County to establish a KSh500 million County Aggregation and Industrial Park, which will support value addition for crops such as bananas and coffee.
He reaffirmed the administration’s focus on driving economic growth and reducing poverty through development projects.
Additionally, he announced the allocation of KSh300 million for the construction of roads and bridges in Bomachoge Borabu Constituency.
The government has also set aside KSh18 billion to construct 13,000 affordable housing units in Kisii.
Among the projects underway are KSh640 million housing units in Kenyenya and KSh140 million hostels for polytechnic students.
President Ruto stressed the importance of cooperation among leaders, saying his administration is committed to fostering unity and ensuring equitable development across the country.
“Our government is focused on bringing people together and prioritizing development. Leaders at both county and national levels must work jointly to achieve this,” he said.
