Justina Wamae proposes scrapping of national health insurance after SHA, NHIF scandals
By Joel Masibo, August 26, 2025Former Roots Party 2022 presidential running mate Justina Wamae has called for the scrapping of the national health insurance covers after both the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Social Health Authority (SHA) have proved dysfunctional.
Taking to her X account on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Wamae argued that SHA was formed due to funds embezzlement in NHIF, only for the same public funds to keep disappearing in the current health authority as well. She added that the existing loopholes in the national health Fund have been taken advantage of by people who have access to its coffers.
“SHA was necessitated by the loss of funds in NHIF. Now, money is lost again. How about we do away with this Fund at once; we avoid leading duty bearers to the temptation of putting their fingers in the cookie jar. When there’s no cookie, nobody will be greedy.” Wamae said.
The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), established in 1966, long served as Kenya’s public health insurer. However, over the decades, concerns about inefficiencies, fraud, and poor governance grew.
To address this, Parliament enacted the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, establishing the Social Health Authority (SHA). It replaced NHIF on October 1, 2024, creating three funds: Primary Healthcare Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund, and Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. Despite this overhaul, SHA inherited NHIF’s liabilities, and considerable debts, and unresolved problems.
Leaders admissions
Meanwhile, amid SHA confusion and controversies, leaders and health unions have admitted that the entire system is faulty. Aldai Member of Parliament Marianne Kitany has reaffirmed that the Social Health Authority has major problems despite health being devolved and a national priority.
Kitany spoke on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, on the SHA rollout, conceived to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and digitise Kenya’s health. Latest revelations have exposed fraudulent payments, dogged by reports of unlawful procurement and unfulfilled county equipment arrangements under SHA.
“Despite healthcare being a devolved function and a priority for all Kenyans, SHA has faced major issues. The agreement on county medical equipment services was never fulfilled, leaving gaps in service delivery.” MP Kitany said on a local TV station.