Salasya raises alarm over SHA, calls for urgent reforms in healthcare system
By Emmanuel Rono, April 11, 2026Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Kalerwa Salasya has warned that the country’s new health financing model under the Social Health Authority (SHA) could plunge Kenyans into a healthcare crisis if urgent reforms are not undertaken.
Taking to his X account on April 11, 2026, Salasya said he could “no longer stay silent,” arguing that the transition from the former National Health Insurance Fund ( NHIF) has left many citizens confused, frustrated, and uncertain about access to medical services.
“I Hon Peter Kalerwa Salasya cannot stay silent any longer. After a deep and painful analysis of the Social Health Authority (SHA), my heart is heavy. What was meant to protect Kenyans is slowly becoming a burden to the very people it should serve,” Salasya stated.
Effect on vulnerable groups
Salasya expressed his concern that vulnerable groups, including patients seeking critical care, are bearing the brunt of the transition.
He cited parents who are having a hard time paying for their children’s treatment and workers who feel abandoned by the system even though they have been making regular contributions.
“This is not just a policy. This is about lives. It is about a mother who cannot afford treatment for her child. It is about a worker who has paid faithfully but now feels abandoned. It is about millions of Kenyans who deserve dignity, not struggle, when seeking medical care,” Salasya said.
He also warned that if urgent action is not taken, the country could be heading toward a worse healthcare crisis that might be hard to fix.
Tabling motion at parliament
Salasya said he would be making suggestions in Parliament to help the new health system deal with its problems. He stressed that reforms must put the well-being of citizens first.
” If we do not act now, we are heading into a crisis that will be very difficult to fix. I am calling for urgent action. We must restore trust, fix the system, and put Kenyans first — before it is too late,” Salasya said.
I will be tabling key recommendations to address these challenges. This fight is for every Kenyan. Your health is your right.”