NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 29 – Governor Evans Kidero has written to the National Government demanding Sh165 million owed to the Nairobi County in free maternity fees.
Kidero described the current situation as untenable due to the National Government’s failure to dispatch the funds.
“In compliance to Central Government directive on provision of free maternity services, Nairobi County has an outstanding reimbursement of over nine months, amounting to Sh165,171,980 whose details are well within the knowledge of your ministry,” reads the letter to Health CS James Macharia.
“We therefore demand that re-imbursement be made with immediate effect.”
He says the county will be unable to continue offering the crucial services to the residents of Nairobi.
All counties are required to offer free maternity services as per the directive of the government.
Free maternity services are among the Jubilee Government’s initiatives meant to help reduce child mortality in the country.
In keeping with his inauguration pledge to provide free health care to expectant mothers within his first 100 days in office, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed all public hospitals to scrap all maternity fees on June 1, 2013.
And although the move was lauded in many quarters, there were some teething problems with the government being accused of not preparing fully for the transition.