More than 40,000 elderly persons and other vulnerable groups would benefit from a health cover to be paid by the Kisii County Government.
The county will set aside at least Sh40 million every financial year to provide health cover for the elderly.
The proposal is contained in the National Hospital Insurance Fund Support Bill passed by the County Assembly last week and assented to by Governor James Ongwae.
The ward reps also passed the Kisii County Science and Technology Park Bill, 2015, the Kisii County Abattoirs Bill, 2015 and the Kisii County Animal Welfare Bill, 2015 that are meant to improve service delivery. They have since become law after assent by the governor.
A committee has also been formed to spearhead the identification of individuals who will benefit from the cover, said the county Speaker Kerosi Ondieki on Monday in his office.
“The county intends to pay NHIF subscription fees for these people and certain vulnerable segments,” he said, adding that each of the 45 wards would have at least 800 people benefiting from the programme.
He the Act further proposes the establishment of a Sub-County Social Protection Committee comprising five persons that would be tasked with its implementation.
The committee chair shall be appointed by the County Executive Committee in charge of Culture and Social Services according to the speaker.
The committee shall identify other vulnerable persons from all the sub-counties that would benefit from the subsidy.
“I thank the County Assembly for passing these bills especially the NHIF Support Bill, 2015 which will allow us implement our social protection project,” the Speaker said.