President William Ruto has affirmed that the Social Health Authority (SHA) will succeed despite mounting challenges and fraud allegations that have recently rocked the health insurance program.
Speaking at State House on Wednesday, August 27, where he hosted grassroots leaders from Kiambu County, the President acknowledged the system's teething problems while expressing confidence in its eventual success.
"SHA must work, and it will work," President Ruto declared.
The President's strong endorsement comes at a time when SHA faces intense scrutiny over alleged fraudulent activities, payment irregularities, and transparency concerns that have dominated public discourse in recent days.
President Ruto emphasized that the government is implementing digital solutions to address systemic weaknesses that plagued the previous NHIF system.
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"We are also digitising our health system to seal the loopholes that crippled the defunct NHIF, ensuring that the new Social Health Authority (SHA) delivers on its mandate," he stated. "We solemnly committed to the people of Kenya to transform our nation. We proudly report that this promise is no longer a dream; it is unfolding in healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and employment, among others."
He positioned healthcare as a fundamental right rather than a privilege, declaring that it is no longer a privilege for the few who can afford it but a right for every Kenyan.
The President's affirmation comes against the backdrop of significant challenges facing SHA that have raised questions about the authority's operational integrity and transparency.
The crisis deepened when social media users began questioning payment allocations to various healthcare facilities, alleging preferential treatment and irregular funding patterns.
Online criticism intensified after claims about disproportionate payments between counties and healthcare providers emerged.
The controversy prompted SHA to restore its hospital payments list to its website after initially removing it, following public demands for transparency.
The challenges facing SHA were further highlighted by revelations from Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who disclosed systematic fraud within the healthcare system.
The Ministry of Health's investigations uncovered disturbing patterns of financial misconduct among healthcare facilities participating in the SHA program.
CS Duale revealed that audit findings showed facilities engaging in "upcoding" practices, where patients were charged for more expensive procedures than those performed.
The investigations also uncovered systematic falsification of medical records, with some facilities creating or altering documentation to support fraudulent claims.
The extent of the compliance issues became apparent when SHA suspended 45 healthcare facilities across multiple counties on Tuesday following comprehensive investigations.
The suspensions, published in a gazette notice, affected facilities in Mandera, Wajir, Kakamega, Nairobi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Homa Bay, Kiambu, and Murang'a counties.
