Murang’s governor Irungu Kang’ata has announced plans to pay women to the tune of KSh 2000 for every child they give birth.
The UDA governor said the stipend, captured in the health sector strategic plan, will be paid to mothers who visit maternity wards at public hospitals in the county.
Kang’ata who spoke on Monday, October 24, said pregnant mothers will be paid KSh 2,000 during the last two months of the pregnancy and the remaining amount, KSh 2,000, after delivery.
“We will be supporting pregnant mothers with a stipend of KSh 2,000 for the last two months of the pregnancy and the same amount after delivery, to [total] KSh 6,000 per pregnancy,” the county boss said.
Kang’ata further faulted sections of media reports claiming that the program is aimed at boosting the population in his county.
The Murang’a governor said the plan is aimed at addressing maternal and infant mortality rates adding that no one can boost the population by way of tokenism.
“The goal is to incentivize hospital deliveries, address maternal and infant mortality rates,
“The lives of women and those of infants are too important for one to joke around with a view of sensationalism. No one can boost population by way of tokenism,” he added.
Kang’ata further partnered with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to roll out medical insurance coverage, which will enable Murang’a resident’s access health services free of charge.
Murang’a governor who spoke on Monday, October 25, after holding a meeting with NHIF officials said more than 20,000 vulnerable households in the county will benefit from the program.
“NHIF and my County have today established “Kang’ata care”. It is medical insurance cover free to 20k Muranga households, caters to inpatient/outpatient, dental, optical, and last expense cash of 100k payable to principal members plus dependants,” Kangata stated.