Kerugoya: The Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every Kenyan has access to affordable, quality healthcare while accelerating development projects across Kirinyaga County and the entire country.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking at Kerugoya Girls High School during a public sensitization forum for the Nyota program, the PS emphasized that the government remains steadfast in its mission to strengthen healthcare delivery systems and ensure accountability in public service. Muthoni stated that the transition from the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority marks a major milestone in the country’s health reform agenda, designed to expand coverage, enhance service delivery, and introduce efficiency across all levels of healthcare.
Muthoni clarified that essential programs such as Linda Mama have not been scrapped but strengthened to offer a broader range of services to mothers and infants. She disclosed that the government has already established a Benefits and Tariffs Committee to continuously review healthcare packages and ensure they align with current medical needs and globally best practices. Citing progress made under the new structure, she revealed that the cancer treatment package has been increased from Sh300,000 to Sh550,000, a move expected to ease the financial burden on thousands of families battling the disease.
The PS cautioned health facilities against charging patients who are already registered under the new system, insisting that administrative issues between the Ministry and service providers should not be passed on to patients. Muthoni assured citizens that the Ministry of Health remains open to feedback and is committed to clarifying issues raised by the public to strengthen confidence in the ongoing reforms.
Turning to development matters, the PS highlighted several projects being implemented across Kirinyaga County under President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying the region continues to benefit from targeted government investments. She revealed that under the Hustler Fund, more than 316,000 residents in Kirinyaga have accessed loans amounting to over Sh1.1 billion, empowering small business owners and promoting financial inclusion at the grassroots level.
Muthoni further announced that through the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, the government has spent more than Sh500 million, connecting 6,212 households to the national electricity grid and improving livelihoods through enhanced access to power. On housing, she noted that the Affordable Housing Projects in Gichugu Constituency are at 99 percent completion, while those in Kirinyaga Central are at 95 percent, creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for the youth.
Additionally, the PS said the government is upgrading several key trading markets across the county and has identified 13 milk coolers for installation to support dairy farmers, promote value addition, and reduce post-harvest losses. She emphasized that the government is people-centered, responsive to citizens’ needs, and focused on implementing projects that directly improve livelihoods rather than engaging in empty political debates.
Muthoni called on residents to support government programs and remain united in pursuit of progress, adding that development must always take precedence over political interests. She concluded by urging cooperation and shared storytelling of government achievements to build a better, prosperous future for all.
