Why Jalang'o Believes Public Servants Should Be Forced to Use Public Hospitals

Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwour, popularly known as Jalang’o, has called for a mandatory policy requiring all public servants to use public hospitals.

Speaking on the floor of parliament, the MP argued that this measure is necessary to ensure better funding and improved services in public health institutions.

A Call for Shared Responsibility

Jalang'o began his address by commending a motion moved by Hon. Sabina Chege. He stressed that for leaders to effectively advocate for public institutions, they must also benefit from them.

"You cannot fight for something fully when you don't get benefits from it... for us to now start allocating more money to our public institutions like the hospitals, we as leaders must start using the public hospitals,” Jalang’o said.

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He pointed out that facilities like Kenyatta National Hospital provide excellent services, but leaders often opt for private hospitals due to their insurance coverage.

Proposed Policy Changes

To address this, Jalang'o proposed a two-pronged approach. He suggested that using public hospitals should be a mandatory requirement for public servants. He also proposed a change to government insurance covers.

"Let it be mandatory that public servants use public hospitals, and even insurance companies that provide our covers must also be told not to cover leaders if it is for a private hospital,” he suggested.

The MP added that if a public servant wishes to receive private treatment, they should do so at their own expense.

"If you want to go for private treatment, use your own money," he stated.

He added that for any treatment covered by the government, public hospitals should be the only option.

Sabina Chege's Bill

The bill is being pushed by nominated MP Sabina Chege who is calling on Parliament to pass a law requiring public officers to seek medical treatment exclusively in public hospitals.

She said the country’s public health system is under strain and at risk of complete failure if leaders continue to rely on private facilities while public hospitals suffer neglect.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Chege pushed for urgent reforms and increased funding for Kenya’s public health institutions.

She argued that unless lawmakers and senior public servants use the same health services as ordinary Kenyans, the system will never improve.

“We must stop pretending,” MP Chege told the House. “If public officers knew they had to walk into a Level 4 hospital in their constituency for treatment, they would prioritize fixing them.”