Education Ministry didn’t request for extension of Edu-Afya medical scheme - CS Nakhumicha
The Health CS said before the lapse of the scheme, the Ministry of Health formally informed the Ministry of Education about its termination.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has now passed the buck to the Ministry of Education over the lapse of the Edu-Afya medical scheme offered to learners.
In a parliamentary session held on Wednesday, Nakhumicha claimed that the Ministry of Education did not request an extension after the scheme ended in December 2023.
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The revelation comes amid mounting pressure from Members of Parliament, who have shone the spotlight on Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu for failing to renew the medical insurance scheme, leaving more than 3.4 million learners without medical cover.
During the plenary session, Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda sought clarification from Nakhumicha regarding the contingency measures implemented to ensure students remain covered following the collapse of the scheme.
“I am aware that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) ended the Edu-Afya where our learners were being covered and I just wanted to find out what the alternative or whether the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is going to cover our schools?” she posed.
Responding to Lesuuda's inquiry, Nakhumicha said before the lapse of the scheme, the Ministry of Health formally informed the Ministry of Education about its termination. It was expected that the Ministry of Education would request an extension, but unfortunately, this did not happen.
"The Edu Afya scheme came to an end and lapsed in December. Before its expiration, the Ministry of Health formally notified the Ministry of Education about the termination of the scheme. We anticipated that the Ministry of Education would subsequently request an extension from the Ministry of Health, but regrettably, this did not occur. Consequently, we did not receive an extension,” she said.
SHA coverage
She however emphasised that the establishment of the new Social Health Authority now ensures comprehensive coverage for all Kenyans. She said under the Social Health Authority Act, an expanded benefits package is provided, offering coverage for all family members, including school-going children, surpassing the scope of the previous Edu-Afya scheme.
Appearing before the Public Investments Committee, Machogu explained to the MPs that the failure to renew the Edu-Afya scheme was due to the implementation of the new Social Health Insurance Fund, which absorbed all previous health insurance schemes, including Edu-Afya.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu before a past National Assembly Education Committee. (Photo: Education Ministry)
“Mr Chairman, you know we have a new insurance scheme that has collapsed all other health insurance schemes including this one of Edu-Afya. But in the meantime, we have NHIF in place,” Machogu said.
He said that students are now covered under the NHIF as the country awaits the new SHIF scheme to take effect.
However, the MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation, arguing that NHIF coverage for students wasn't effectively being implemented on the ground.
“Why can’t the ministry put stop-gap measures to this? Mr CS our children are exposed now. This is wrong. It is not true that NHIF has come in to cover our students. We want you to tell us what measures you have put in place to deal with this matter,” Bumula MP and Chairman of the Committee Wanami Wamboka posed.
The Sh4.5 billion medical scheme has been effective since May 2018 before collapsing in December 2023. It used to cover all children in public secondary schools in Kenya.
Through the cover, the government paid a premium of Sh1,350 per student. The programme included outpatient and inpatient services, day surgical services, local road ambulance and emergency air rescue services.
They were targeting three million students who were in public secondary schools to fulfil the Big Four Agenda – the provision of affordable health care.
The last report on the medical scheme showed that 606,893 students sought medical attention in the year 2019 out of the 2.7 million learners under the cover.
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