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The County Government of Murang’a has kicked off registration of beneficiaries of the medical insurance scheme dubbed “Kang’ata care”.

The programme will benefit 20,000 households who will receive free medical services in public hospitals.

The county signed a pact with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) which will see the devolved unit pay Sh170 million per year.

Speaking during the launch of the programme in Kigumo, Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the programme is meant to lift the medical burden off the shoulders of vulnerable households.

He said the cover targets families with people living with disabilities, people with terminal illnesses, the orphaned and the elderly.

“These are the most vulnerable people who need help in catering for their medical needs,”he said.

Most deserving

The cover will cater for outpatient, inpatient, dental and optical services.

Kang’ata (pictured) said he will consider increasing the number of f beneficiaries next year if he gets to approval from the County Assembly.

The registration is being conducted by committees which compromise of administration officers, religious leaders, representatives from county government and MCAs.

Kang’ata urged the committees to be objective and ensure they enlist the most deserving people.

“This cover is crafted to help the most vulnerable and we expect the recruitment to be transparent,” he said.