Devolved funds for county governments will be available for disbursement by 15th of every month, Deputy President William Ruto has said.
At the same time County governments have agreed that Sh4.2 billion, which they were receiving, should be channelled to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
This was after Health Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri explained in detail on how the programme would be carried out by NHIF.
Mr Muraguri told the meeting the Government aims to ensure transparency of the programme under the ‘Linda Mama Card’.
He said the Government would this year spend Sh4billion to pay for one-year NHIF insurance for pregnant women, persons with disabilities and those from poor backgrounds.
“I want to make it clear that NHIF under this programme will pay for deliveries in both public, faith-based and private hospitals in a move to increase transparency of the programme. We have no different agenda from that of the Counties,” he said.
He went on: “We want to expand the health infrastructure and optimize the funds available to insure the elderly, persons with disabilities and people from poor backgrounds.”
Governor Isaac Ruto (Bomet) and his Kisumu counterpart Jack Ranguma said County governments were opposed to the programme because there was no clarity on how the funds would be utilized.
“We were opposed to the move because there was no clarity on how the programme will be carried out but things are now clear,” said Mr Ruto.
Addressing the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) in his Karen office on Tuesday, the Deputy President regretted frequent delays in the disbursement of funds to counties.