President Ruto Announces Salary Cut In NHIF Reforms

The president of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Ruto has today May 1, 2023 reveled that he will be contributing Ksh27,500 towards the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) from the current contribution of Sh1,700.

The president while addressing Kenyans during the labour day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens said the move is aimed at creating a more inclusive scheme that can accommodate many households.

He further stated that the scheme would harmonize the amount contributed depending with the amount you earn per month.

“It does not make sense that the president pays Sh1,700 every month the normal Mwananchi pays Sh600 to have NHIF. My salary is Sh1 million. The boda boda guy earns an average of 5,000. Is it sensible? We have changed the contribution formula hence those paying Sh500 will pay Sh300 in the seventh month.”
“I as the president who has been paying Sh1,700 will pay 27,500 and others will also pay a certain amount,” he noted.

The president further lauded the Hustler Fund initiative and promised small-scale traders that they will be able to access loans of between Sh10,000 and Sh20,000 as from June 1, 2023.

The president also addressed the issue of unemployment in the country and said the government is set to sign bilateral agreement with at least seven countries.

On the same note, the president said in the coming week he is set to sign a deal with German that will see over 250 million Kenyans work in Berlin.

He said this move would see the country receive about Sh400 billion as Return On Investment (ROI) from those working in diaspora.

While addressing Kenyans, he promised to set up digital hubs in every ward that will enable Kenyans tap into the digital economy and essentially direct youth into the digital jobs sector.

The president also faulted the recent statistics from the labour sector, (Global Age Watch Index) that placed the country at number 72 out of 96 in terms of countries whose citizens retire in poverty.

Ruto emphasized on the importance of increasing the savings for each Kenyan through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF)