Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has criticized the government for its handling of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on November 28, 2024, Karua claimed the government was undermining Kenya’s healthcare system and national assets.
Karua opined that the dismantling of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in favour of SHA has deepened the financial burden on Kenyans through increased taxation.
“Our health system is on the brink of collapse due to inadequate funding. The chaotic dismantling of a working system, the NHIF and forcing upon Kenyans the SHIF/SHA which Kenyans cannot even comprehend its meaning,” Karua stated.
“Under NHIF the contribution was a flat Sh500 per person, SHA seeks to take away 2.75 per cent of their earnings."
Karua attributed the struggles faced by families seeking healthcare to the new Universal Health Care system, citing the increasing cases of suffering, death and impoverishment to it.
"This is eroding access to quality health care. We have witnessed suffering, death and impoverishment of families to get their loved ones to access health,” Karua said.
On November 16, President William Ruto said the government will review the Universal Health Coverage to resolve problematic issues pointed out by Kenyans.
“I want to assure Kenyans and the bishops that we will rectify the issues they have pointed out because UHC will make sure no citizen is left behind,” the President said.
“Health is a right for every Kenyan,” Ruto said while reaffirming the government’s commitment to making it effective.
“Don’t wait until you are sick because we are all candidates for sickness. Now, you as a Kenyan haven’t registered for SHA, but you are complaining it is not working. How do you know it is not working if you haven’t registered in the first place?” Ruto asked.
President Ruto noted that the government will settle all health claims made under SHA in October within a week, an indication of the system’s efficiency which he attributed to the Digital Health Act.
He explained that clearing pending claims would ensure medical facilities could provide quality healthcare, a key challenge in the SHA rollout in many counties.