Women Representatives Dr. Irene Kasalu (Kitui), Rose Museo (Makueni), and Joyce Kamene Kasimbi (Machakos) have mounted pressure on Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, demanding accountability in the troubled Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking during a Women and Youth Empowerment NGAAF event at ACK Grounds in Machakos, the three Wiper leaders urged the Ministry of Health to restore access to the SHA website, disclose how funds have been disbursed to hospitals, and hold those responsible for mismanagement to account.
They lamented that despite Kenyans enduring monthly salary deductions to finance SHA, citizens continue to be turned away from hospitals. “The public is suffering, yet their money is being deducted every month. The Ministry must come clean and tell us where the funds are going,” the legislators declared, branding the situation a “national disaster.”
Launched in October 2024 to replace the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), the SHA was billed as a bold step towards universal healthcare. Yet, less than a year later, it is engulfed in scandal.
The Auditor General flagged irregular procurement of SHA’s digital system, warning that it remained under private ownership and exposed public funds to abuse. Investigations have since revealed ghost hospitals and fictitious billing worth KES 10.6 billion, with over 120 facilities suspended or delisted.
System failures have deepened the crisis. A nationwide collapse of SHA’s biometric verification system forced hospitals to revert to insecure one-time passwords. Additionally, the controversial removal of the Kenya Master Health Facility Registry (KMHFR) portal—a key transparency tool—sparked outrage, with former Chief Justice David Maraga calling it a cover-up attempt.
CS Duale has dismissed corruption allegations as “propaganda and blackmail,” insisting that his ministry is weeding out rogue hospitals under the Taifa Care initiative. He maintains that billions in fraudulent claims have been rejected and that the government remains committed to free primary healthcare.
Still, hospitals across the country continue to report delayed payments, while patients—especially in Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos—struggle to access treatment despite mandatory deductions.
The three Women Reps have now joined a growing chorus of voices, from trade unions to civil society, demanding a full-scale audit and accountability at SHA.
“This is not just about policy failure—it is about people’s lives. A clean-up at SHA is no longer optional; it is urgent,” they said.
