Aldai Member of Parliament Marianne Kitany has criticized the way the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) was implemented under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Speaking on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, during a televised interview with K24 TV, Kitany stated that SHIF was a good concept that was wrongly implemented.

According to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmaker, SHA is a social health program that was aimed at putting together the have and have-nots to provide a human service, which is healthcare.

She argued that healthcare is a service that must be given to every Kenyan.

Kitany further stated that employed Kenyans are deducted money from their pay slips so that their unemployed counterparts can also manage to get healthcare services, but the program was not well implemented.

“SHIF/SHA is a social health program. Social means that the have and have-nots are put together to provide a service, which is a human service. This human service is healthcare because healthcare is a service that, according to our constitution, must be given to every Kenyan. I am deducted about Ksh30,000 from my pay slip which is supposed to go and assist my mother or grandmother or a villager who cannot afford any employment and get this service for free,” Kitany stated.

“It is a good concept, a nice way to look at it, but my issue is the implementation of this particular program,” she added.

Hon. Marianne Kitany: The SHIF/SHA is a social health program. This means that the have and have-nots are put together to provide a human service which is healthcare.#NewDawn pic.twitter.com/RKTUqHcnCH

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) November 13, 2024

Kitany’s remarks come a day after her Suba North counterpart Millie Odhiambo openly differed with the leader of the majority party in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah over the implementation of the SHA.

In a special motion brought to the floor of the house on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, by Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo, Millie Odhiambo told Ichung’wah that the transition was a mess and that urgent action needed to be taken.

“Honourable majority leader, please listen. The transition is not working well. Take this and inform whoever needs to be informed,” Odhiambo said.

This came after Ichung’wah revealed that members of parliament were bashing the same law that they themselves passed.

SHA controversy

Kitany’s sentiments come hours after the suspension of the acting Social Health Authority Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) Elijah Wachira.

Wachira was sent on compulsory leave barely two months after the rollout of SHA.

The board of the SHA on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, sent Wachira on compulsory leave.

In a letter seen by People Daily Digital, the board indicated that Wachira was to proceed on leave for 90 days.

“This is to inform you of the resolution of the board to send you on compulsory leave effective immediately for a period of 90 days to allow for further investigations on your professional conduct and performance as the acting CEO of the Social Health Authority,” the letter read in part.

“While on leave, you shall be entitled to all your current remuneration and benefits. The board has further appointed Robert Ingasira as the Acting CEO while you are on leave. Therefore, please hand over the office to him immediately.”

SHA was officially rolled out in Kenya on October 1, 2024, to replace the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).