Taita Taveta: The Office of the Ombudsman has commended the ongoing efforts in implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) program in Taita Taveta County, stating that the initiative is steadily transforming access to healthcare.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a fact-finding mission in the county hospitals, the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) chairperson, Charles Dulo, called for increased public awareness and timely disbursement of funds to further strengthen delivery of health services. Speaking during a press briefing at the Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi, Dulo disclosed that from the one-on-one interviews the commission made with patients from different hospitals in the region, SHA is already benefiting many residents, especially those who have successfully registered under the program.
Dulo noted, 'We have spoken to patients and healthcare providers, and there is evidence that SHA is working well for registered members.' However, he acknowledged a few operational challenges, which are common in the early stages of implementation of the new medical program. Among the key challenges noted included delayed reimbursements to health facilities and limited public knowledge about the registration process. At Moi County Referral Hospital, it was reported that while claims amounting to Sh43 million had been submitted, only Sh800,000 had been received so far.
The commission on administrative justice assured that it would relay these findings to the Ministry of Health, the Social Health Authority, the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary for health and all other relevant stakeholders for appropriate action. 'This is not unusual in large-scale rollouts. We are confident that with ongoing support from the national government, these teething problems will be addressed promptly,' the Chairperson noted.
The Commission encouraged residents to register with SHA to fully enjoy the benefits of the program and urged health facilities to assist in guiding residents through the process. 'It's important that citizens understand what documents are required and where they can register. We have noted that some of the complaints stem from lack of awareness, and we are recommending enhanced community sensitization,' Dulo added.
The spot check by the Ombudsman is part of a wider tour of the Coast Region, which also includes monitoring implementation of the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLoCCA) program, which is a World Bank-supported project implemented jointly with the National Treasury and county governments to support grassroots-led climate change interventions. The commission met with the County Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo and other officials to assess how the devolved entity is progressing in aligning with FLoCCA requirements, including the development of a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Policy, the establishment of frameworks for Access to Information, and the enacting of legislation that enables open governance.
The Chairperson highlighted the importance of the GRM policy in empowering communities to raise concerns related to project implementation. Additionally, counties are expected to enact Access to Information laws in line with Section 96 (3) of the County Governments Act, 2012, which mandates that each county government in Kenya must enact legislation to ensure access to information in accordance with the national laws governing access to information. 'Our technical team is working closely with the counties to finalize these policies and ensure that the public is empowered through information and engagement,' Dulo said.
Taita Taveta is among 21 counties implementing the FLoCCA program. The Commission had earlier visited Tana River and Kilifi counties and is expected to proceed to Kwale County to complete the coastal circuit. 'The goal is to ensure that by the end of this financial year, all participating counties have grievance redress systems and access to information frameworks in place,' he noted.
The watchdog commission reaffirmed its support to both the county and national governments in driving citizen-centered service delivery reforms. Dulo said the mission aims to identify best practices, address gaps, and facilitate the development of policies that strengthen accountability and transparency. 'As a Commission, we are encouraged by what we have seen. There is marked progress and political goodwill. What now remains is to scale up awareness, strengthen systems, and maintain momentum,' he stated.
The visit reflects the government's broader agenda of improving public service delivery, promoting transparency and advancing climate resilience through inclusive and community-driven approaches.