President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA) while in London, saying the new health system has already benefited millions of Kenyans.
In a statement shared via his X account on Thursday, July 3, 2025, the president, who is on a tour in the United Kingdom, insisted the scheme is delivering results despite the controversies.
“Our Social Health Authority is working. In eight months, the transformative medical scheme has served more than 4.9 million people, way above what NHIF would have managed,” Ruto stated.
Adding;
“The criminal elements that are staining SHA will not succeed. We have tracked and closed over 1,000 medical facilities engaging in fraud. More are on the way. Our health programme must remain efficient and incorruptible. Engaged Kenyans living and working in the United Kingdom, London.”
This comes days after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale issued a firm and final warning over the increasing number of fraudulent schemes targeting the Social Health Authority (SHA) Fund, stating that any individuals or institutions found guilty will face swift legal consequences.
In a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, June 29, 2025, Duale revealed that the ministry had uncovered various forms of malpractice involving healthcare facilities, workers, and even patients.
He described the offences as illegal, unethical, and a betrayal of the public’s trust in Kenya’s healthcare system.
“We have noted with great concern a growing trend of fraudulent activities being perpetrated by some healthcare facilities, healthcare workers, and even patients against the Social Health Authority (SHA) Fund,” he said.
One of the key violations involved misrepresentation of claims, with some facilities allegedly converting outpatient visits into inpatient claims to fraudulently increase payouts from the Fund.
“This is a serious offence. Any facility found engaging in this malpractice will be shut down immediately and prosecuted,” he warned.
SHA challenges
As of February 12, 2025, official figures from the Ministry of Health show that 19,340,978 individuals have registered under SHA. Counties like Mombasa, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Bomet have the highest registration rates, with over 40% coverage. However, Turkana, West Pokot, Garissa, and Samburu counties still lag.
Despite the large number of registered individuals, only about 3.3 million Kenyans are actively contributing to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which is vital for financing medical services. M
Most of the inactive contributors are believed to be informal sector workers who have irregular incomes, making consistent payments difficult. As a result, many patients have been forced to pay for treatments out of pocket due to delays in funding.
Health workers, clinical officers, and members of the public have raised concerns about overlapping coverage between the SHA and the now-defunct NHIF. There are also complaints about unclear guidelines and poor communication, leading to continued frustration.
