Kenyan salaried employees will soon be going home with fewer salaries as the government plans to increase the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) monthly contributions.
According to Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, employees might be paying 2 percent of their income as NHIF contribution to help boost the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program initiated by the government.
If the move by the government comes into effect, Kenyans will, apart from the already choking taxes, have to cope with further deductions, news that many Kenyans are against.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s much-talked-about Big 4 Agenda includes affordable and universal health for all Kenyans but it seems the government’s plans is for Kenyans to fund for their own ‘Big 4 Agendas’.
Already salaried employees are being compelled to contribute to the government’s plan to construct a total of 500,000 affordable housing units, also under the Big 4 Agenda.
NHIF currently has a total of 6.5 million beneficiaries. The government says that it seeks to double the number in the next four years through the UHC program to enable Kenyans to have access to ‘affordable health.
Employees in Kenya contribute a mandatory monthly premium of up to 1,700 shillings while voluntary self-employees pay 500 shillings per month.
Here are some reactions from Kenyans:
So, this government is planning to increase my NHIF contributions up to 2% of my salary? For what? For the pathetic services being offered? When will the robbers in this government stop looking for all means possible to loot from us? When?
— juma G. 🇰🇪 (@jumaf3) November 15, 2018
NHIF is the Biggest Scam in Kenya After Eurobond & NYS. This project doesn’t offer the best it should offer and those benefitting are the Ones in power. It’s Unacceptable, Oppressive & Robbery when you overtax Citizens to attain unattainable Goals.
— vincent omolo (@vincentomolo) November 16, 2018
How they are trying to finish my little salary #SicilyKariukiMustGo #NHIF pic.twitter.com/RxVT4BTyJe
— Rashid MM (@rashidshillow) November 15, 2018
The government has, however, ‘disputed’ the claims that there are plans to increase the monthly NHIF contributions.
“The government does not intend to raise NHIF monthly deduction for workers to 2%; when time comes for any increase, public participation, including that of the workers will be undertaken. Pls ensure we do not mislead the public,” @MOH_Kenya CS @SicilyKariuki @PDUDelivery
— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) November 15, 2018