Aldai Member of Parliament Marianne Kitany has reaffirmed that the Social Health Authority has major faults despite health being devolved and a national priority.

The SHA rollout, conceived to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and digitise Kenya’s health, has been rocked by fraudulent payments, dogged by reports of unlawful procurement and unfulfilled county equipment arrangements.

Speaking against the backdrop of SHA controversies on a local TV station on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, MP Kitany warned that the equipment deal was never fulfilled and faulted discrepancies in how SHA payments are reported. The legislator added that SHA still faces major setbacks despite health being devolved.

“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 stated.

Procurement

The lawmaker also called for transparency in the procurement process involving SHA and the accredited facilities. “All costs under SHA are agreed on, whether in public or private hospitals. Hospitals must present totals of services rendered monthly. If facilities were honest in this process, we would not be facing claims that they need additional payments.”

Replacing NHIF, the digitalised platform was intended to pre-authorise services, process payments, and reduce the duplicate/ghost-claim problems that plagued NHIF. The transition included a large investment in a national health information platform and new tariff rules that govern payments to facilities.

However, despite the faults in SHA, the Ministry of Health has defended its roll-out as necessary to tackle legacy NHIF fraud. The ministry has announced investigations and issued suspensions to clean up the mess in the health sector. At the same time, Health unions have warned that the digital system is compromised or vulnerable, calling for transparent investigations.

Duale adamant

However, the Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, in his latest reaction to SHA, has dismissed the reports touching on SHA as propaganda and blackmail by the media and other quarters.

”No amount of propaganda or blackmail will deter us from fixing our healthcare system. We know saboteurs of SHA have recruited several groups, including some sections of the media, to advance their agenda. Let them be warned: We are fixing this thing regardless of the noise! Our work has just begun. We will not rest until every Kenyan has access to quality, affordable, and dignified healthcare, free from the burden of fraud.”