The Anglican Church of Kenya has raised concern over the ongoing crisis in the country’s health and education sectors, urging the government to act swiftly to ease the suffering of citizens.
Speaking at the close of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Provincial Assembly of the Clergy, Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit called on the state to urgently resolve the standoff that has left thousands of Kenyans stranded.
The archbishop noted that the suspension of services by private hospitals for patients using the Social Health Authority (SHA) cover has worsened the situation.
According to Ole Sapit, the move has exposed ordinary Kenyans, many of whom rely heavily on public insurance schemes, to untold suffering.
He expressed concern that people in need of urgent medical attention are being turned away, not because of lack of facilities, but due to unpaid dues from the government to hospitals.
“While we acknowledge the efforts being made to reform the health sector, we cannot ignore the reality that gaps within SHA and SHIF are creating unnecessary pain for our people,” the archbishop said.
“We demand that the Social Health Authority puts its house in order and prioritizes payments owed to hospitals so that services can continue without interruption.”
The gathering of church leaders, which was also a time for prayer and reflection over the state of the nation, emphasized the church’s role in speaking for the vulnerable.
Ole Sapit reminded the government that reforms should not come at the expense of citizens’ lives and dignity.
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