Parliament has rejected a key motion seeking to roll out Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nationwide and enforce a policy requiring all public servants to seek medical care exclusively in public health facilities.
The proposed measures were touted as a step toward strengthening Kenya’s public health system, improving service delivery, and reducing the cost burden on ordinary citizens. However, MPs opposed the plan, citing gaps in infrastructure, inadequate staffing, and the need for systemic reforms before such policies could take effect.
The decision is seen as a setback to government efforts to make quality healthcare accessible to all, and it is expected to spark debate on whether leaders should be subjected to the same services as the public they represent.
