By Wakhungu Andanje
Leaders from the Mulembe Nation have come out strongly in support of the Social Health Authority (SHA) registration, criticizing opponents for misleading Kenyans about the initiative. Ikolomani MP and Western MPs Caucus Chair, Bernard Shinali, condemned the faction led by impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for spreading propaganda against SHA. Speaking at the Malulu Injendi Soccer Tournament finals in Malava constituency, Shinali accused Gachagua of hypocrisy, alleging that residents in his home region had already registered for the health scheme. In contrast, he discouraged others from doing so.
“Gachagua’s backyard has nearly full registration for medical insurance, yet he uses media platforms to criticize the program. His goal seems to be sabotaging the Kenya Kwanza government so that later he can blame it when people struggle to access medical care,” said Shinali. He urged Mulembe residents to embrace the registration exercise despite technical challenges, assuring them of the program’s benefits for their families.
Malava MP Malulu Injendi, the event host, spearheaded mass registration during the soccer finals and emphasized its importance for accessing better healthcare and securing more funding for local hospitals. Injendi expressed optimism about achieving his constituency’s target of 200,000 registrations.
“This is just the first phase. After today, we will bring registration services closer to the people by operating at ward levels and local health facilities,” Injendi announced. Injendi also encouraged athletes to register for SHA, emphasizing that their active lifestyles necessitate medical coverage. He urged them to pursue technical training to acquire self-sustaining skills.
The Western region, including Kakamega County, has lagged in SHA registration. According to Ministry of Health statistics, the county has registered only 14% of its 1.8 million population target. Injendi and other leaders, including Webuye East MP Dan Wanyama and Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana, called on locals to prioritize registration to unlock essential healthcare funding.
Wanyama, who chairs the parliamentary sports committee, hailed SHA as a transformative step in universal healthcare. “This Taifa Care initiative is unprecedented in the country. It’s facing teething problems, but by February next year, it will be fully operational,” Wanyama said.
Kakamega County SHA Manager George Mokaya acknowledged technical challenges like network fluctuations but assured residents the issues were being addressed. Mokaya emphasized that increased registration would directly benefit hospitals by enhancing drug supplies and improving services.
“Currently, we have registered 280,000 residents—just 14% of our target. Massive registration is crucial for equipping our hospitals and ensuring better services,” Mokaya stated. The leaders also dispelled rumours that SHA registration could lead to the loss of personal property, labelling such claims as malicious misinformation.
As SHA registration continues, Western leaders remain united in urging residents to seize this opportunity to safeguard their health and improve healthcare access in the region.
