The Social Health Authority (SHA) has appointed four new directors as part of efforts to strengthen its senior management team.

In a statement released on Friday, September 12, 2025, SHA Board Chairperson Abdi Mohamed confirmed that the recruitment process was competitive and transparent, having commenced on July 29, 2025.

“The Social Health Authority Board is pleased to announce the appointment of four new Directors following a competitive and transparent recruitment process that began on 29th July, 2025,” read the statement.

Strengthening healthcare leadership

The new appointees include Diana Marion as Director, Provider and Beneficiary Management; Golda Larissa Akolo as Director, Benefits and Claims Management; Mohamed Alio Ibrahim as Director, Corporate Services; and Jonathan Leisen as Director, Funds and Finance Management.

“The new Directors, who bring a wealth of invaluable experience to the organization, are as follows:Dr. Diana Marion – Director, Provider and Beneficiary Management Ms. Golda Larissa Akolo – Director, Benefits and Claims Management Mr. Mohamed Alio Ibrahim – Director, Corporate Services Mr. Jonathan Leisen – Director, Funds & Finance Management .”

SHA Board Chairperson Abdi Mohamed said the directors bring the right expertise to support the authority’s mandate of ensuring financial risk protection and improving access to quality healthcare. The board also expressed appreciation to the interim staff who held the roles during the transition period.

“This team’s expertise will be crucial in steering the Social Health Authority achieve its mandate of providing financial risk protection for Kenyan residents and ensuring they have access to quality healthcare.The Board would like to express its profound gratitude to the staff for their unwavering dedication and support provided to the interim senior management team during the transition period.”

Marion, one of the new appointees, holds an M.Med in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of Nairobi and an MBChB from Moi University.

She has served as a medical professional specialising in maternal and reproductive health, fields considered vital to enhancing healthcare delivery in Kenya.

Amid financial strain

The appointments come against a backdrop of financial challenges in the health sector. On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the Rural Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) urged the government to clear a Ksh33 billion debt owed to hospitals by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and address a Ksh43 billion backlog in SHA claims.

The association warned that the pending arrears are straining service delivery in private hospitals across the country. RUPHA proposed that at least half of the arrears be settled immediately and called for rejected claims to be reviewed under a “clarification” process, giving hospitals two weeks to comply in line with SHA contracts.

The group also pushed for the establishment of a Disputes Resolution Tribunal, noting that the current SHA framework lacks a mechanism for resolving payment disputes.

The SHA Board expressed confidence that the new directors will help stabilise the authority and address sector concerns, reinforcing efforts to ensure sustainable and equitable healthcare access for Kenyans.