President Uhuru Kenyatta: Government to support private healthcare providers

President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that his government will start funding private hospitals to improve healthcare in the country.

Speaking yesterday at AIC Kijabe Mission Hospital in Lari constituency, the President said time has come for the national government to support private healthcare providers.

He said he will kick off funding to private hospitals, which have shown exemplary work in their provision of health services.

Kijabe Mission Hospital was celebrating 100 years of service. Missionaries have been offering healthcare to Kenyans and other patients from East and Central Africa in the facility.

At the same time, Uhuru said the country is facing a shortage of trained personnel in the health sector and urged the private sector to do more to fill the gap.

The President congratulated the hospital for training healthcare providers and appealed to them to continue doing the same.

Chief executive officer of the health facility Mary Muchendu said the hospital is being pulled back by the huge debt it is owed by individuals and corporates. She said that individuals owe them Sh70 million while corporates owe them Sh74 million.

Mrs Muchendu requested the President to help in upgrading the hospital to a referral facility due to the kind of services it’s offering.

The President said the road leading to the health facility will be rehabilitated to ease transport needs as it is currently in deplorable condition.

The President was accompanied by Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale and MPs Mburu Kahangara (Lari), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) Wanjiku Muhia (Nyandarua county) Ann Nyokabi (Kiambu county), Kiragu Chege (Limuru) and Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri).

Kahangara said immediately after the rain season, tarmacking of Gichiego Kijabe road that leads to the mission hospital will go on.