President William Ruto has dismissed critics of the Social Health Authority, defending ongoing health reforms and describing opposition voices as politically motivated and misinformed.
Speaking during a meeting with Maendeleo ya Wanawake women, the President said the new health insurance programme is already delivering tangible benefits to millions of Kenyans. He added that many critics lack a clear understanding of the scale and intent of the reforms.
“Those saying SHA is not working have not even registered. Others are politicians driven by politics, not facts,” Ruto said.
His remarks come amid growing debate over the implementation of the new healthcare financing model, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund. The transition forms part of the government’s broader plan to expand access to affordable medical services.
The President also took aim at opposition leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who had predicted the programme would collapse within six months.
Ruto dismissed the claims as baseless and accused some leaders of spreading propaganda to undermine government efforts. He said the criticism mirrors past resistance to major national projects that were later successfully implemented.
“These are the same people who opposed previous projects, yet today those projects are delivering results,” he said.
Millions registered as funding hits record levels
Ruto said the Social Health Authority has registered over 30 million Kenyans within its first year, marking a significant step toward universal health coverage.
He added that the government has disbursed KSh121 billion to hospitals under the scheme, the highest amount ever allocated to health facilities in the country’s history.
“We said no Kenyan should sell land, livestock or property to pay hospital bills. With SHA, once you are registered, your medical costs are covered,” he said.
The President emphasized that the reforms are designed to reduce out of pocket healthcare costs, which have long limited access to treatment for many households.
He pointed to growing evidence of the programme’s impact at the grassroots level, citing cases where households have received significant financial support for treatment.
“Today, you go to villages and hear people saying SHA paid KSh20,000, KSh50,000, KSh200,000, even up to KSh1 million for their treatment. Did you ever hear such stories before?” he posed.
Ruto said such outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the reforms and signal a shift toward more equitable healthcare access across the country.
The government continues to encourage citizens to register for the programme through community outreach and digital platforms, as part of efforts to ensure wider coverage.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding healthcare access, urging Kenyans to ignore what he described as politically driven narratives.
SHA programme remains central to the government strategy to overhaul the healthcare system and ensure all citizens can access essential medical services without financial strain.
