Kimani Ichungwa: Governors are sabotaging SHA
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 24, 2026National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has accused county governments of undermining the success of the Social Health Authority (SHA) by allegedly diverting funds intended for health facilities to other expenditures.
Speaking in Parliament during a debate on the county allocations on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Ichung’wah argued that governors, rather than the national government, are responsible for some of the challenges facing healthcare facilities despite the availability of funding through the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF).
According to the Kikuyu MP, the Facility Improvement Fund was established under the four health laws enacted to support the rollout of SHA and ensure that hospitals directly benefit from revenues generated through healthcare services.
“If there are people who are sabotaging the working of SHA, it is the governors. When we crafted the four health laws under SHA, we had a Facility Improvement Fund. The hospitals are getting money from SHA through the Facility Improvement Fund, but is that money going back to the facility?” Ichung’wah posed.
He claimed that some county administrations are withdrawing the funds from health facilities and channelling them to activities that have little to do with improving healthcare services.
Diverting SHA funds
The lawmaker cited his own county, Kiambu, as an example, alleging that money intended for hospitals is being used to purchase chicks, packets of maize flour and other items distributed as political handouts.
“Governors are picking this money and, like in my county, they go and buy chicks, buy a packet of unga, and give handouts that are politically expedient,” he told lawmakers.
Ichung’wah maintained that healthcare facilities should be allowed to retain and utilise the funds generated through SHA in order to improve service delivery, purchase essential medical supplies and address operational challenges.
His remarks add to the ongoing debate over the management of healthcare funds under the devolved system, with concerns emerging over whether resources allocated to health facilities are reaching their intended destinations.