Kiambu Constituency MP Machua Waithaka has been recognised in the Social Health Authority (SHA) Hall of Fame for using the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to finance health insurance premiums for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Waithaka is among only 36 elected lawmakers out of Kenya’s 290 constituencies to receive the recognition for supporting vulnerable members of their communities to access healthcare through the initiative.
The programme has enabled the Kiambu MP to facilitate payment of SHA premiums for 360 senior citizens and persons with disabilities annually across the constituency’s four wards, easing the financial burden on households that might otherwise struggle to meet the cost of health coverage.
The initiative reflects the growing role of constituency development funds in supporting vulnerable populations, particularly older people and persons living with disabilities who often face additional financial and social barriers when seeking medical care.
Waithaka said the recognition was an honour and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable members of the constituency are not excluded from essential public services.
He said senior citizens deserved dignity, care and support, while persons with disabilities should enjoy equal opportunities to access healthcare and other critical services.
The MP maintained that facilitating access to health insurance was part of his broader development agenda, which prioritises practical interventions aimed at improving the welfare of residents.
“Yangu Ni Kazi Tu,” is the slogan Waithaka has used to emphasise his focus on development and service delivery, urging that work should take precedence over political contestation.
His office says the annual premium support programme is intended to ensure that beneficiaries can access healthcare without having to shoulder the cost of their SHA contributions themselves.
The intervention comes amid wider efforts to expand health coverage under Kenya’s new social health insurance framework, which seeks to improve access to medical services and reduce the financial hardships associated with illness.
For low income households, the cost of healthcare can mean choosing between treatment and other basic needs. Support for insurance premiums can therefore help ease that pressure, particularly for older residents and people living with disabilities who may require regular medical attention.
However, the long-term impact of such programmes will depend on sustained funding, effective identification of eligible beneficiaries and continued access to healthcare services when patients need them.
Waithaka’s recognition places his constituency among those whose elected representatives have used NG-CDF resources to support health coverage for vulnerable residents.
The MP reiterated his commitment to keeping development at the centre of his leadership agenda, maintaining that public resources should translate into tangible benefits for the people they are intended to serve.
His supporters have branded him the “Fundi wa Maendeleo” and “The Man Who Keeps His Word”, reflecting the development focused image he has sought to build in Kiambu Constituency.
For the beneficiaries, the central test of the initiative will be whether the support translates into reliable access to treatment and reduces the financial obstacles that can prevent vulnerable residents from seeking medical care.
Waithaka’s message remains that development should come first, with political competition taking a back seat to service delivery.
