Governors mull dropping free maternity care over funding hitches
Chairman of the Council of Governors Peter Munya (centre) flanked by Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya (right) and Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony address journalists at Delta House in Nairobi on January 14,2016. Several governors say they may be forced to drop the free maternity care over funding hitches. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Governors say county governments could drop the programme as it is too expensive for them to sustain.
Mr Munya, who is also the Council of Governors chairman, said it was difficult to provide free maternity services without funds.
Mr Ranguma said county governments had borrowed funds from other sources but are now overwhelmed.
Mr Oparanya said the national government is yet to reimburse Sh205 million to the Kakamega County Government for free maternity services.
Expectant mothers might soon have to pay for maternity care, should the national government fail to release funds for the service, governors have said.
The governors said they would have to revisit the free maternity programme by the end of 2016.
They said county governments could drop the programme as it is too expensive for them to sustain.
Governors Peter Munya (Meru), Isaac Ruto (Bomet), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), James Ongwae (Kisii) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) said they were failing to take care of the high number of women admitted to wards due to cash constraints.
Mr Munya, who is also the Council of Governors chairman, said it was difficult to provide free maternity services without funds.
“We need to take care of expectant mothers once they are admitted to hospital but we cannot do that because we do not have the money yet,” said Mr Munya.
“Everything the women use in hospital, including the food they eat and the medicine they use, requires money,” he added.
Mr Ranguma said county governments had borrowed funds from other sources but are now overwhelmed.
“I am afraid that we might have to charge the women before we offer our services. It appears the national government is not taking us seriously,” he said.
Mr Oparanya said the national government is yet to reimburse Sh205 million to the Kakamega County Government for free maternity services.
“This is a national government project that is implemented in partnership with counties. Counties have been left to provide the service on their own,” he said.
Mr Ruto said the non-remittance of the funds could lead to a major crisis in the health sector.
“Why is it that we have to push for this money all the time? The national government should be releasing the money in time,” he said.
Mr Ongwae said some health projects in Kisii County had stalled as the authorities diverted money meant for them to cater for maternity care.
He said this was not sustainable, and called on the national government to release funds for the service.
