Private hospitals issue 14-day go-slow notice over SHA
By Faith Lagat, September 5, 2025The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has issued a stern 14-day go-slow notice to the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Ministry of Health, and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, demanding the immediate settlement of Ksh33 billion in outstanding NHIF arrears and greater transparency in the handling of healthcare claims.
“Today we issued a 14-day go-slow notice to @_shakenya and to the @MOH_Kenyand to the CS Health @HonAdenDuale. On behalf of Kenyan patients and hospitals, we urge @HonAdenDuale and @_shakenya to 1. Depoliticise and in the next 14 days settle NHIF arrears worth Ksh 33B to Kenyan Hospitals,” read part of RUPHA’s X post dated September 5, 2025.
The announcement, made during a press briefing at Lunga Lunga Square, Nairobi, underscores a deepening crisis in Kenya’s healthcare system, with hospitals facing severe financial distress and patients at risk of losing access to care.
NHIF debt
In a detailed statement posted on X and elaborated in their press release, RUPHA highlighted that Kenyan hospitals are grappling with delayed and inadequate reimbursements, with SHA having paid only Ksh53 billion out of Ksh96.2 billion in submitted claims as of August 2025, leaving a staggering Ksh43 billion unpaid.
Of the Ksh33 billion NHIF debt, Ksh 15.2 billion is owed to 83 major facilities, including 23 public hospitals such as Kenyatta National Hospital (Ksh 1.58 billion) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Ksh 1.24 billion), which account for 10% of the total.
“We point out that of the Ksh33B, Ksh15.2B is owed to 83 hospitals, while the rest is shared by 2,600 small facilities. Among the big 83 are 23 public hospitals led by Kenyatta National Hospital at Ksh1.58 billion and MTRH at Ksh1.24 billion. These 2 hospitals represent 10 per cent of the NHIF debt. There should be no further delays for the remaining 2,600 small hospitals that are the pillars of our communities.”
The remaining Ksh17.8 billion is distributed among 2,600 smaller facilities, described by RUPHA as the “pillars of our communities,” urging no further delays in payments.
RUPHA accused the government of politicising the crisis, particularly criticising the rejection of Ksh10.6 billion in SHA claims as a “political gimmick” that harms legitimate hospitals while allowing “ghost hospitals” to profit.
Sipili Maternity
The association pointed to a shocking revelation of a closed facility in Nyandarua County, Sipili Maternity and Nursing Home—shut down in 2022 following exposés of patient abuse—still receiving Ksh13.7 million in SHA disbursements.
This came to light after a Parliamentary Health Committee visit declared the facility “fully SHA compliant,” sparking outrage and raising questions about oversight.
The association’s resolutions demand the settlement of NHIF liabilities within 14 days, payment of at least 50 per cent of the Ksh43 billion SHA arrears, and the publication of claims data, including the names of 24 hospitals under DCI investigation.
RUPHA also called for a clarification mechanism in the SHA portal and a Dispute Resolution Tribunal to address arbitrary facility downgrades and suspensions, which they argue violate the Constitution and Fair Administrative Action Act.
Amidst these demands, RUPHA chairperson Brian Lishenga has accused CS Duale of micromanaging SHA, sidelining CEO Mercy Mwangangi and reducing the institution to a “ghost house” with no functional leadership.
With hospitals warning of a potential collapse in healthcare access, RUPHA’s ultimatum signals a critical juncture, urging swift action to avert a crisis.