Busia Senator and activist Okiya Omtatah has called on the Ministry of Health to suspend the Social Health Authority (SHA) immediately following Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s exposé. The Auditor General revealed that SHA is a Ksh104 billion corruption scheme that the government neither owns nor controls, putting billions of Kenyans’ contributions at risk.
According to Omtatah, the scheme is deeply flawed and needs urgent intervention before more public funds are lost.Following these revelations, Omtatah has made three key demands to the ministry. First, he wants the immediate suspension of SHA until a full review of its operations is done.
Second, he insists on a complete overhaul of SHA’s framework to fix its weaknesses. Third, he is calling for the prosecution of individuals responsible for the alleged theft to prevent further looting of public resources.
He argues that SHA’s problems are not minor but are deep-rooted failures that undermine public confidence and the future of Universal Health Coverage in Kenya.Omtatah warns that continuing with the flawed SHA system will cause irreparable damage.
He believes the scheme is not designed to help Kenyans but to exploit them and serve corrupt interests. He says Kenyans deserve a healthcare system that is transparent and accountable, not one controlled by a group of individuals enriching themselves at the expense of the public.
His concerns are supported by the Auditor General’s findings, which revealed shocking details about how SHA is run.The audit report shows that 2.5% of member contributions to SHA were withheld and placed in an escrow account without transparency.
It also highlights serious governance issues, including uncompetitive procurement processes, unclear payment agreements, and unfavorable contract provisions.
These findings have sparked widespread calls from stakeholders, including leaders and members of the public, to cancel SHA and ensure better oversight of the project.
Former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi has also spoken against SHA, calling it a criminal enterprise used by the president to collect money for paying MPs.
His comments add to the growing suspicion that the scheme is being used for political interests rather than improving healthcare. Public Service and Human Capital Development Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has also weighed in, stating that he had previously warned about the irregularities surrounding the Ksh104 billion SHA contract.
Despite these concerns, President William Ruto has denied claims that the government spent Ksh104 billion on SHA. He insists that no government money will be used to pay for the system and that previous corruption under NHIF was the real issue.
However, his response has done little to ease public concerns, as many believe SHA is just another avenue for misappropriation of funds. With mounting pressure from leaders like Omtatah and growing public outrage, the fate of SHA remains uncertain.
