TWV Team
The National Assembly’s Health Committee has launched a nationwide fact-finding mission into the operations of the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA), following widespread complaints of delayed claims, rejected payments, and alleged fraud.
Dr. James Nyikal led the MPs to Homa Bay County, where hospitals and patients described confusion following the transition from NHIF to SHA. Dr Nyikal noted that although systems for registration and claims exist, they are poorly understood, leading to frequent delays and rejected claims. The problem, he explained, is compounded by the absence of SHA field offices, with only NHIF branches still operational, making follow-up cases nearly impossible.
“The system has potential, but it is not yet performing as expected. Our task is to ensure SHA functions smoothly so that all Kenyans can benefit,” Dr Nyikal said after visiting Nyandiwa Health Centre. He urged citizens to enrol early, warning that those who remain outside the scheme risk exclusion once the system stabilises.
On allegations of misdirected funds, Dr Nyikal clarified that claims of non-operational facilities receiving payments were still under investigation. He revealed that confusion had arisen between two facilities with similar names in Suba South and Nyandiwa, adding that the committee would establish the facts before drawing conclusions.
The MPs were unanimous that SHA must succeed. Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron acknowledged the system’s “teething problems” but described it as a “strong initiative that needs urgent corrective measures.” Lurambi MP Bishop Titus Khamala emphasised that fraudulent claims often involve collusion between patients and facilities, calling for a holistic fight against corruption in the health sector.
Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino firmly dismissed any possibility of reverting to NHIF. “That house was brought down. SHA must work for Kenyans,” he said, cautioning that if early challenges are not addressed, public confidence could collapse, forcing citizens into self-medication.
The committee also faulted the centralisation of services, which forces health facilities to seek solutions from headquarters rather than county offices, slowing down problem resolution. Despite the turbulence, MPs maintained that SHA remains central to the government’s universal health coverage plan. They pledged to work with the Ministry of Health to ensure the system is streamlined, funds are used effectively, and fraudulent activities are punished without penalising innocent hospitals and patients.
