Nyeri residents to pay for public hospital visits as county seeks to raise Ksh.1B revenue

Nyeri County will start collecting hospital charges after a two-year break that saw the Universal Health Coverage Program financing the hospital bills.

The signing of the finance bill for the years 2020/21will allow the county government charge those visiting level 4 and level 5 hospitals across the county.

Nyeri county hopes to raise 1 billion shillings during this financial year.

In the last financial year, the county had hoped to raise Ksh.1B but missed the target by Ksh.400,000; the county boss attributing the low revenue collections to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking after signing the bill, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga said that they have not added any charges but have increased the revenue streams by having more parking slots in the county.

The county has also hired 40 new enforcement officers and tax collectors to boost the revenue collection.

Nyeri county assembly speaker John Kagucia at the signing ceremony said that they did receive memorandums from Nyeri residents seeking to have the county assembly retain rates as they are.