NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 25 — President William Ruto has mounted his strongest defence yet of the government’s Social Health Authority (SHA), declaring that the new healthcare system is performing “ten times more” than the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), even as it continues to face criticism over system failures, delayed reimbursements and inherited debt. Speaking during an engagement with Community Health Promoters (CHPs), Ruto argued that SHA has fundamentally transformed healthcare financing by increasing funding to public hospitals, expanding health insurance registration and accelerating payments to health facilities across the country. “We have changed our health system.
Today SHA is performing ten times more than NHIF was performing,” Ruto said. The President dismissed calls by some political leaders to restore NHIF, saying such proposals would reverse gains made under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme. To support his case, Ruto contrasted SHA’s financial performance with that of NHIF, saying the new authority is disbursing significantly more money to health facilities.
According to the President, NHIF paid about Sh5.6 billion every three months, while SHA is now paying approximately Sh12 billion every month. He also pointed to the rapid growth in membership, noting that SHA has registered 32 million Kenyans, compared to roughly eight million who were enrolled under NHIF. Our nation is changing, and health is changing,” he said.
Ruto further highlighted increased allocations to public hospitals, citing Riruta Hospital in Nairobi, which he said previously received about Sh200,000 monthly but now receives more than Sh6 million under the new funding model. He said similar improvements were being witnessed in hospitals across the country because healthcare funds now flow directly to facilities. Beyond financing, Ruto said the government has strengthened community healthcare by formally recognising Community Health Promoters, providing them with training, stipends, medical kits and digital tools.
He pledged continued government support, saying additional resources would be allocated to improve their welfare and facilitate their work in delivering primary healthcare services. The President maintained that the healthcare reforms form part of his administration’s broader agenda, alo…
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