President William Ruto has dismissed criticism of the government’s Social Health Authority (SHA), saying opponents lack the capacity to understand or interpret the scale of reforms under way in the new healthcare system, and that it was delivering tangible benefits to millions of people, reports CapitalFM.
He defended the “transformative” programme, which is part of the administration’s broader plan to overhaul the national health system and ensure equitable access to medical services for all citizens.
Ruto also took a swipe at critics, including his former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua – who had predicted the collapse of the programme within six months – and accused some leaders of spreading misinformation and propaganda aimed at undermining government efforts.
The President said the SHA has so far registered more than 30m Kenyans within a year of its rollout, marking a significant shift from the previous system. Additionally, the government has already disbursed Sh121bn to hospitals under the scheme – the highest amount ever paid 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.
Ruto maintained that the government remains committed to expanding healthcare access through universal coverage, urging Kenyans to register for SHA and ignore what he termed as politically driven narratives.
CapitalFM article– Ruto Defends SHA, Dismisses Critics As Misguided Amid Healthcare Reforms
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