NHIF scandal culprits will be prosecuted, says Kibaki

President Kibaki is taken on a tour of the Matercare Referral Hospital in Isiolo when he officially opened the facility in Isiolo County May 19, 2012. He said those behind the civil servants’ medical scheme scandal will be prosecuted. PPS

President Kibaki has said those behind the civil servants’ medical scheme scandal will be prosecuted.

The President said the government will never compromise the health of Kenyans and ordered a speedy investigation into the Sh4.2bn National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme that has been riddled in controversy.

The accounts of two medical service providers, Clinix and Meridan, were frozen after it emerged that they had been paid Sh318million by NHIF irregularly.

“Persons engaged in corruption in health service delivery must be dealt with. We must never compromise the health of our citizens because of greed and through schemes meant to put money in pockets of people who have no capacity to deliver health services to the people,” said President Kibaki during the opening of the Catholic Diocese of Isiolo Matercare Referral Hospital in Isiolo County Saturday.

“I will therefore be expecting an expeditious completion in the ongoing investigations on the Civil Service medical scheme. 

“Punitive action should be taken on those found to have participated in any acts that may have compromised the health of the Kenyan people,” said the President.

 He said the Constitution and the country’s development blueprint, VISION 2030, underscored the priority that the government has given to the health sector.

"Indeed, every Kenyan has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to quality reproductive healthcare services.”

President Kibaki said the government will intensify the on-going relief food distribution to combat famine in some parts of Isiolo County due to crop failure in the last season.

On security, the President said the government was keen to address the challenges being experienced in the County mainly as a result of banditry, cattle rustling and differences among various clans.

He directed the police to intensify security patrols in the area so as to stamp out banditry, cattle rustling and other criminal activities.

The President urged district peace committees to step up efforts in peace building and conflict resolution in order to address inter-communal differences.

“On their part, I urge members of the public to cooperate with security agencies through community policing,” President Kibaki said.