Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja, also the Chief Executive Officer of top Kenyan company, Keroche Breweries, is on a mission to have Kenya’s political elite banned from seeking treatment abroad.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Senator Karanja said the bill would seek to address lack of medicine and modern equipment in local hospitals, and stop leaders from seeking treatment abroad.
“As I address the lack of medicine and modern equipment in our hospitals, I’m pushing for a Bill to stop leaders from seeking treatment abroad while our own healthcare suffers. We need to use our taxes to build and equip hospitals, roads, and schools for all Kenyans,” said Senator Karanja.
She added in part as she spoke to a local vernacular radio station, “Nakuru health sector is crippling: no medicine, no modern equipment. I’m coming up with a Bill that will restrict governors and even the President from seeking treatment outside the country. We want the taxes that we collect to build hospitals, equip them for all Kenyans. Common man needs good, equipped hospitals, good roads, water and schools. As senators, we will make sure the taxes are utilized well, people get value for their money and ensure there is zero corruption in the country. Devolution meant well for our counties but if we have poor leaders, nothing tangible will be seen or felt on the ground,” said Senator Karanja.
Senator Karanja’s sentiments come on the heel of Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika giving birth at age 51 and announcing earlier this year that she was on maternity leave, with whispered allegations that she gave birth in the United States of America, hence her absence and silence in Kenya before issuing a statement on the same. The Senator and Governor have been at critical odds for months now over running the County’s affairs.
Additionally, Kenyan politicians have long been criticized for seeking medical treatment abroad, often flying to countries like the United Kingdom, USA, India and South Africa for specialized care. This trend continues to highlight the glaring disparities between the healthcare services available to the elite and those accessible to ordinary citizens. Many of these leaders bypass local hospitals, citing poor medical infrastructure, lack of specialized equipment and inadequate services; issues that persist due to underfunding and mismanagement of the healthcare sector. Their actions raise concerns about their commitment to improving Kenya’s healthcare system when they themselves do not rely on it.
A significant portion of these medical trips is funded by taxpayers, further fueling public outrage. Leaders who travel for treatment often receive state-sponsored medical allowances, insurance or direct funding from government budgets- draining public resources that could otherwise be invested in upgrading local hospitals. Meanwhile, millions of Kenyans struggle with inadequate healthcare, overcrowded public hospitals and a lack of essential medicines. This growing frustration has sparked calls for reforms, including the proposed legislation to ban public officials from seeking treatment abroad using taxpayers’ money unless local facilities are deemed incapable of handling their cases.
