MPs Approve Bill Making NHIF Mandatory for All Kenyans
The National Assembly has passed a bill that compels all Kenyan adults to enroll with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The government-sponsored National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill makes it mandatory for each household to make a contribution of Sh500 monthly or Sh6,000 annually to NHIF.
It requires employers to pay an equal contribution to the fund for their employees as the government moves towards attaining universal health coverage (UHC).
“Contributions will be by all Kenyans from 18 years and above in both formal and informal sectors,” the bill reads in part.
Employers who fail to remit to the fund or deduct the same from their employees’ salaries will face heavy penalties.
MPs rejected a proposal by the National Assembly Health Committee to have the national and county governments foot the bills for the 5.1 million poor households.
Employers with workers earning below Sh12,000 will be compelled to top up their employees’ contributions to the NHIF.
Under the existing NHIF rates, employees earning between Sh8,000 and Sh11,999 pay Sh400 monthly. Kenyans employed in the formal sector make a contribution to NHIF based on their salaries with the highest paying Sh1,700
“The base of contribution will be Sh500. But there are employees in the private sector who contribute Sh150 or Sh300. The importance of this amendment is to ensure that the private sector employers simply top up the difference to ensure employees base is Sh500,” National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya said.
Comments (6)
This government is shiiiit. Most Kenyans barely earn 500 a day or even a week.
This is insane given how the money is stolen. Can they also pass a law to hang anybody who steals this money?
Perfect response. I would add even to judges that accept corruption to let corruption case die.
The idiots could have gotten rid of their private insurance which is covered by government in millions which makes them access hospitals in usa/uk/France/Australia?We need to all use nhif only on public hospitals not private.The government should invest heavily in public hospitals the way Finland/Sweden have done.Make public schools/hospitals the best n anything private will go out of bizness.But wr lead by fools who we the fools vote for them n r ready to die like fools for them foolish leaders
This is insane. How the hell are poor households expected to come up with ksh.500 monthly when they can barely afford daily food and send their kids to school?. These Mps are a disgrace to the society. Y'all need to be good advocates for the poor society instead of being the oppressor. Somebody need to challenge this in court. Nkt
Another cow to milk. These HYENAS have no mercy. They have already eaten the cow now they are after the calf.
REVOLUTION Kenyans REVOLUTION.