Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has raised concern over a Ksh172 million payment made by the county’s Kang’ata Care health programme to the Social Health Authority, saying it is important for the Senate to find out how the money was used.
He insisted that the public deserves to know whether the funds reached the poor families who were supposed to benefit from the initiative.
While speaking in the Senate, Nyutu called on the Health Committee to prepare a detailed report explaining how the funds were shared between the county government and the insurance provider.
He also asked for clear data on how many households are currently covered under the Kang’ata Care scheme.
The senator said residents of Murang’a have a right to transparency in how public funds are spent. He reminded the House that the health programme was meant to ease medical expenses for low-income families, not to create confusion or raise doubts about financial management.
The Kang’ata Care initiative, launched in 2023 by Governor Irungu Kang’ata, was introduced to provide inpatient, outpatient, maternity, and last expense services.
The county contributes a fixed amount each year per household to ensure affordable healthcare access for the vulnerable.
Nyutu further sought clarification on the number of last expense claims cleared before the National Health Insurance Fund was replaced, and those that may have been left unsettled.
He also questioned whether the programme is continuous or renewed yearly, and if there are any age restrictions for beneficiaries.
The senator emphasized that his concerns were not politically motivated but aimed at promoting accountability and trust in public service.
He noted that the people of Murang’a placed their faith in the county government to manage health programmes responsibly.
In December 2024, Murang’a County entered into a deal with SHA to provide full coverage for 31,416 vulnerable households.
Nyutu commended the idea behind the project but warned that without proper monitoring, even good programmes can be misused.
