Former presidential aspirant Reuben Kigame has strongly criticized President William Ruto over the ongoing challenges surrounding the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Authority (SHA). Since the transition began in early October, patients across the country have faced significant difficulties in accessing healthcare, despite paying premiums, leading to widespread frustration.
The new system, which was introduced as part of the government’s push for reforms in public healthcare, has faced considerable backlash. Citizens, particularly those seeking medical attention at major hospitals such as the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), have found themselves unable to receive treatment due to the system’s operational glitches. Some patients, including those carrying infants, voiced their concerns after efforts to access care were met with resistance and delays. This discontent reached a boiling point on Wednesday, when a group of angry Kenyans stormed the Ministry of Health offices in Nairobi to voice their frustrations.
Kigame, in a televised interview on Thursday, expressed his belief that the system is fundamentally flawed and will never work as intended. He argued that the health insurance system was not broken to begin with, and that the decision to replace the NHIF with the SHA was made under questionable motives. “It is just not working; SHA will never work because it is a con system,” Kigame stated. He further criticized the government’s actions, calling out President Ruto and his administration for dismantling a functional system without offering a viable solution. “Every time you see someone dismantling a system instead of making it better, you are dealing with con artists,” he added, calling Ruto and his associates “nothing but con artists.”
The frustrations over the healthcare system’s failures have been compounded by the government’s response. On Wednesday, the Kenya Health Network (KHN) attributed the delays in patient care to “system downtime” that affected patient clearance and administrative processes. However, the hospital assured the public that the issue had been resolved. Despite this, many Kenyans remain skeptical, with critics questioning the government’s commitment to improving the health sector.
Some government officials, such as Mogotio MP Reuben Kiborek, have dismissed the public criticism as unfounded. Kiborek attributed the system’s shortcomings to “teething problems,” particularly in handling chronic diseases, which he claimed were exacerbated by limited funding from the national budget. He assured the public that efforts to address these issues would be made through a supplementary budget. “The system is still new, and these are teething problems,” Kiborek remarked during an interview on Daybreak.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, who has defended the SHA, acknowledged that there had been challenges in the sensitization of the public about the new system. She insisted that services are being offered and that people are being treated under SHA, despite the ongoing issues.
As the government continues to face public outcry, the minister was scheduled to address the nation on Thursday in a bid to clarify the situation and reassure citizens about the future of the country’s healthcare system. However, the persistent glitches and frustrations continue to raise doubts about the feasibility of the SHA in its current form.
