President William Ruto has stated that his government will not back down on the Social Health Insurance Fund and will confront health ministry cartels head on.
President Ruto stated in Baringo during the Annual Kimalel Goat Auction that deep-rooted cartels have been looting the Ministry of Health and engaging in fraud.
He says the fund will be implemented at all costs, accusing what he calls "cartels" of sponsoring court cases against the program.
“Mambo ni matatu…we are not going to accept blackmail...those sponsoring cases against UHC are beneficiaries in the NHIF,” Ruto said.
Did you read this?
He also stated that his administration will not waver in pursuing equity in health-care delivery.
“Hao wakora ndio walikuwa cartels kwa Ministry of Health na NHIF…tutawasimamisha…hatutakubali matapeli katika wizara ya afya,” he added.
President Ruto also addressed the insecurity in the country's north and reaffirmed his government's commitment to ending banditry.
“Hapa North Rift tuko na majeshi 1,500 tuko na askari 3,000 ninawahakikishia hawa askari hawawezi kutoka hapa hadi wakora wote watoke…tumewawekea notice. Wamepunguza mambo...mambo bado,” he insited.
Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, stated that the government would work together to combat bandits.
“We are not going to wake up every day to news of bandits and people being killed,” he noted.
The president also stated that all schools closed due to insecurity will reopen in January.
“We want all schools ambazo zilifungwa wanafunzi warudi madarasani January tumeanza kuzitengeneza ziwe sawa,” the president noted.
His deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, said the government works around the clock to restore power, particularly at the JKIA, the country's main entry point.
“Generators ziko JKIA ni zile za ile serikali ingine sasa Murkomen nunua generator ingine yenye inafanya kazi...jenga airport mpya ndio tuheshimiwe na mataifa mengine,” Gachagua said.
Earlier in the day, the president met with Lamu leaders, calling for an increased security operation to restore peace.
"We want leaders to work with us to ensure we do not have bad elements," he said.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki added, "As we go into next year, we want to step up our game against terror elements."
