The government has dismissed claims that the Social Health Authority (SHA) is on the verge of collapse, insisting that the national health system remains stable, well-funded, and steadily expanding.
The remarks follow statements by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who on Sunday alleged that SHA could collapse within six months, potentially plunging the country’s health sector into crisis.
Responding to the claims, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said SHA has been operational for 19 months and continues to show strong performance in membership growth, revenue collection, and payments to health facilities.
“As of today, more than 30 million Kenyans have registered with the Social Health Authority, and thousands more continue to sign up daily,” Duale stated.
Gachagua, however, warned of looming challenges, saying, “Our hospitals, especially faith-based ones, are owed more than sh 90 billion and are almost shutting down. If SHA collapses, we will have a big crisis.”
According to the Ministry of Health, SHA has collected sh156 billion since its inception, with sh115 billion coming from the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Duale noted that sh97 billion has already been disbursed to health facilities under SHIF, alongside billions allocated to primary healthcare, civil servant schemes, and critical illness funds.
“These numbers show a system that is working, not one that is collapsing,” Duale said. “We are collecting more than we are paying out, and we are paying consistently.”
He emphasized that primary healthcare services under SHA remain free at the point of use, revealing that over 8.7 million visits have already been recorded nationwide.
Duale urged Kenyans to ignore misinformation and continue registering for the programme, reaffirming the government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage and ensuring timely payments to hospitals.
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