RUTO’s threats against Judiciary seem to be working as CJ KOOME’s court lifts the orders barring his Social Health Insurance Fund

 
Friday, January 19, 2024 - President William Ruto can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Court of Appeal lifted temporary orders that barred the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Act.

The appellate court overturned the orders that were granted by the High Court and allowed the new Act to replace the defunct NHIF Act. 

"We hereby suspend the orders of the High Court restraining the implementation and or enforcement of The Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, The Primary Health Care Act, 2023 and The Digital Health Act, 2023," Justices Patrick Kiage, Pauline Nyamweya and Grace Ngenye ruled.

The judges added that the Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha was right in her warning that barring the Social Health Insurance Act would jeopardize the sector.

They also noted that the local citizens who are supposed to benefit from the Insurance Act were not party to the case in court. 

Nonetheless, the court suspended a directive ordering beneficiaries to only access healthcare services where their contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund are up to date and active.

This directive was provided under Section 26(5) of the Act which also stipulated that access to public services would only be granted to contributors. 

However, on November 27, 2023, the high court issued orders barring the implementation of the new funding system after Health CS Nakhumicha gazetted its rollout.

The new development comes after Ruto threatened to do the unthinkable to Martha Koome’s Judiciary, accusing it of sabotaging his legacy projects.

The Kenyan DAILY POST