President William Ruto has defended the Social Health Authority (SHA) rollout, saying the government is still removing individuals who attempt to manipulate the health system, even as reforms take shape.

Speaking during a church service at Karen Africa Gospel Church on Sunday, April 19, 2026, Ruto said the country has made major progress in digitising health services and reducing paperwork that he said had previously created room for abuse.

“The situation then was very different from the situation today. We have not only transformed the health infrastructure, we have digitised it. There is no more paper left, right and centre to be manipulated by people,” he said.

Ruto said the government was still cleaning up the system to eliminate corruption and malpractice within the health sector.

“We still are continuing to get rid of the not-so-good people who want to manipulate the system, but we are better placed today,” he said.

His remarks come at a time when SHA, which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), is under intense public debate. Critics have raised concerns over delayed payments to hospitals and operational challenges during the transition. Some health facilities have also reported disruptions in services linked to reimbursement issues.

The government, however, has maintained that the new system is working and will improve efficiency in the long term.

Ksh13 billion hospital payout

Ruto also pointed to what he described as improved efficiency in payment to health facilities under SHA. He said the government would release KSh13 billion on Monday to hospitals for services rendered this month.

“Tomorrow, on Monday, we will be paying Ksh13 billion from SHA to our hospital facilities in Kenya for this month only. Thirteen billion is money that used to be collected in almost six months under NHIF. Today, that is the money we are paying in one month,” he said.

He argued that the shift shows the impact of reforms in the sector and the speed at which reimbursements are now being processed.

“That is the difference we are making,” he added.

The President also highlighted partnerships with faith-based health institutions, saying they remain key players in the delivery of healthcare services under the new system.

“AGC has been a great partner with the Government of Kenya in matters of health, and I want to encourage AGC, as I do all the other Christian health facilities, that we are going to walk the journey with you,” he said.

Ruto said the government would continue working with private and faith-based facilities to ensure healthcare becomes accessible to all citizens.

“We are going to make it easier for you to support us and to assist in making sure that health becomes a reality and a right of every citizen rather than a privilege of those who can afford or those who have means,” he said.

He anchored his remarks on the Constitution, saying access to healthcare is a right for all Kenyans.

“The Constitution of Kenya instructs us that health must be a right for every citizen,” he said.

The SHA rollout has also attracted political debate. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has previously defended the programme, dismissing claims of mismanagement and insisting that all processes are backed by law.

Duale has also rejected claims of large-scale financial loss within SHA, arguing that audit queries reflect accounting transitions rather than fraud.

At the same time, opposition leaders have raised concerns over the system’s stability, with some warning of service disruptions in hospitals. The government, however, insists that reforms are ongoing and that the system will stabilise as digitisation and enforcement improve.