Kalonzo: Much is happening behind SHA’s CEO Mercy Mwangangi’s back
By Mabonga Makhanu, December 7, 2025Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has expressed concerns over the operations of the Social Health Authority (SHA), highlighting that key decisions may be happening without the knowledge of its CEO, Mercy Mwangangi.
Speaking at a forum that brought together lawyers and other legal professionals from the Southeastern block on Sunday, December 7, 2025, Kalonzo said he fears that the agency may not be functioning effectively and that decisions are being influenced by external actors, including the Health Cabinet Secretary, Mohammed Duale, among others.
Kalonzo emphasised that the challenges facing SHA could have wider implications for the health sector, noting that many hospitals are not functioning optimally and that management issues at the agency may be contributing to systemic problems.
“Because our daughter Mercy Mwangangi is the CEO of SHA, I’m a little shy, but this SHA thing is not working. And I have a feeling they are doing things behind Mercy. They are not telling her,” he said.
“This thing is being run by Duale, and other people mess up. You have indicated that the health sector, all our hospitals, are not functioning.”
There comes a time when the public have mixed opinions on SHA, with a vast majority feeling that the medical scheme is not working.
Kibagendi-Duale confrontation
This has also led to a confrontation between Kitutu Chache MP Antony Kibagendi and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale during a parliamentary committee session, which almost turned physical after the MP demanded details on why the scheme is failing.
The session quickly turned into chaos as MP Kibagendi disrupted the proceedings, accusing the Cabinet Secretary of attempting to intimidate the committee.
On the other hand, politicians aligned with the state have emphasised that SHA is working and fully functional. United opposition leaders have vowed to scrap SHA should they manage to take over power.
Mercy Mwangangi was appointed as SHA CEO on April 11, 2025, after a competitive recruitment exercise. On June 3, 2025, she finally assumed the helm of SHA in an event overseen by Health PS Ouma Oluga.