The standoff between the national government and counties concerning free maternity will soon be solved after President Uhuru Kenyatta Friday ordered the re-reimbursement of more than Sh3 billion to facilitate the programme.
In a meeting with governors, cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries at State House, Nairobi that also witnessed the swearing in of the new pointed CSs and their principals, the President ordered the National Treasury to immediately release the funds in two quarters to ensure that the programme does not stall.
“We want to ensure that our women get access to clean and quality healthcare at all public facilities. My government is committed towards facilitating that,” he said.
This comes barely two weeks after Nakuru County health CeC Dr Mungai Kabii lamented over delay to release the funds, saying that the delay was hindering service delivery in Nakuru.
He accused the National Treasury of not fulfilling an agreement of repaying Sh100 million the county used to facilitate the programme further expressing concern that it might fail.
President Kenyatta downplayed the concerns, further saying that it was critical that both the national and county governments partner for the sake of development.