Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has raised concerns that Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa is being unfairly blamed for the failures of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). During an interview on Citizen TV, Nyutu questioned whether the intense criticism directed at Barasa, particularly by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, was an attempt to set the stage for her removal from office.
Nyutu stated that the structural failures of SHIF should not be placed solely on the shoulders of Barasa, as the issues within the health sector were more deep-rooted. He emphasized that both the Health CS and Principal Secretary had become scapegoats for problems that predated their tenure. He further warned that their potential dismissal would not necessarily resolve the challenges affecting SHIF but would instead serve as a distraction from the real systemic flaws.
The criticism against CS Barasa intensified last week during a heated Senate session, where she faced tough questions from legislators about SHIF’s implementation and the hardships Kenyans are facing in accessing healthcare. Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah challenged the government’s decision to rely on premiums to fund universal healthcare, arguing that successful models worldwide are tax-funded. He questioned why Kenya had deviated from the Abuja Declaration, which recommends that governments allocate at least 15% of their annual budgets to healthcare.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey expressed outrage over the case of Baby Aliana Wairimu, whose parents were left with a staggering medical bill despite being under SHIF coverage. He noted that SHA only covered Sh23,000 out of the Sh1.6 million bill, leaving the family in financial distress. Similarly, Nyandarua Senator John Methu criticized the Ministry’s handling of Baby Aliana’s case, pointing out that the child’s family had spent over Sh10 million on treatment in India. He questioned how the Ministry could claim to be unaware of the situation when the case had gained widespread attention.
In response to the growing backlash, CS Barasa defended SHA, stating that the agency had not yet received an official invoice from the hospital treating Baby Aliana. She assured the Senate that once the invoice was received, SHA would process the payment according to its guidelines. Additionally, she pledged to engage with the Senate Health Committee in a retreat to discuss SHIF’s implementation and address concerns raised by legislators.
Despite her assurances, several senators remained skeptical. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna pointed out that many Kenyans were struggling with medical bills even after contributing 2.75% of their salaries to SHIF. He argued that the government had promised better healthcare coverage, but the reality was proving otherwise. On the other hand, CS Barasa defended the transition from NHIF to SHA, highlighting that SHA had registered three times more beneficiaries than NHIF. She insisted that the new system was designed to prevent Kenyans from having to sell their assets to pay for healthcare.
However, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka dismissed her explanations, stating that SHA had failed despite government assurances of its effectiveness. He called for a thorough review of the program and even suggested reverting to NHIF if SHIF continued to underperform. Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana also sought clarification on how the Ministry planned to resolve the standoff between the government and the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya, which had led to patients being forced to pay cash due to non-payment of claims.
CS Barasa disclosed that since SHIF’s rollout in October last year, the program had collected Sh20.9 billion, with Sh18.2 billion already disbursed. Out of this amount, Sh16.9 billion had been used to pay claims, while Sh1.3 billion was allocated to primary healthcare capitation. Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua pressed Barasa for a more detailed breakdown of how the funds were being managed, expressing concerns about transparency and accountability.
Despite these explanations, senators continued to question Barasa’s leadership, particularly her absence from a crucial mid-term review meeting in Naivasha earlier this month. They also questioned why her Principal Secretaries had not stepped in to represent the Ministry at the event.
As frustration over SHIF’s performance grows, the government faces mounting pressure to address the concerns raised by legislators and the public. With ongoing criticism from multiple stakeholders, including the medical sector and private hospitals, it remains to be seen whether the government will take decisive action to restore confidence in the program. Meanwhile, Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri has urged the media to scrutinize statements made by leaders regarding SHIF to ensure accountability.
