UDA lawmakers call out Duale over punitive SHA payment policy
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale during the launch of Nakuru County's Taifa Care Activation on July 23, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri said the government is listening and SHA will be streamlined for the benefits of all Kenyans.
- The MPs told Mt Kenya region to ignore the opposition and remain in the government for the sake of development.
Five United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MPS have asked Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to change Social Health Authority (SHA) policy on payment of premiums from annual to monthly.
This comes after Mr Duale praised the Lipa SHA Pole Pole model that is linked to Hustler Fund and allows SHA users to borrow money to offset payments to the new health scheme as a ‘game-changer’ in making healthcare affordable and accessible for 1.8 million Kenyans in the informal sector.
“With Lipa SHA Pole Pole, contributors can pay daily, weekly, or monthly depending on their income flow. This flexible system respects how people earn and supports their access to care,” Duale said in June while highlighting that Lipa SHA Pole Pole is about equal opportunity.
“Whether you earn daily or monthly, you are part of the national health protection system.”
But according to Mwea residents, it’s foolhardy to expect Kenyans especially from informal settlements who are already struggling to put food on the table to borrow from the government so as to pay the same government for a service that should be made accessible to everyone.
The residents brought to the attention of the five MPs that that they can't afford to pay upfront annually.
They also revealed that as a result of the SHA policy, hundreds of patients in Mwea are currently ailing at home unable to access healthcare facilities and get treatment.
While raising an alarm over what they described as an oppressive condition put in place by Duale’s ministry, they told the UDA MPs that the policy that compels Kenyans for an entire year before accessing health services, a basic right enshrined in the constitution is punitive.
Speaking at Ngurubani Mixed Secondary School in Mwea Constituency in Kirinyaga County during an economic empowerment forum, the residents told the MPS to prevail upon the Kenya Kwanza government to ensure the condition is reviewed.
Suffering because of SHA
“We can't afford to pay for SHA for a whole year, we should be allowed to pay in peace meals to be able to access health services,” one of the residents said.
The residents said due to high cost of living they can't be able to raise money to pay for SHA for a whole year.
“Government should be realistic and allow us to pay monthly as it used to be during the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF),” another resident said.
In response, Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East) promised to ensure that the issue is addressed.
“We have heard the problems you are facing and we shall raise the issue with the government,” said Mr Kiunjuri.
Mr Kiunjuri said the government is listening to its people and SHA will be streamlined for the benefits of all Kenyans.
The other MPs who addressed the matter include Gachoki Gitari (Kirinyaga Central), Mary Maingi (Mwea), Dorothy Muthoni (nominated) and Jane Kagiri (Laikipia Woman Representative).
Ms Muthoni said President William Ruto should be told that Kenyans are suffering because of SHA.
“We have heard what the residents have said and we shall communicate to the President. Kenyans must access services without problems. And if there are officers who are sabotaging SHA to discredit the government they should be exposed and sent home,” Ms Muthoni.
Affordable health services
Ms Muthoni said the government President Ruto means well for Kenyans and will make health services affordable for all.
The MPs told Mt Kenya region to ignore the opposition and remain in the government for the sake of development.
“We want to have a share of the national cake and we must work and support the government,” said Mr Gitari.
Mr Gitari said the government should consider reviving Sh15billion Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) project in Mwea.
He said the project stalled many years ago and it should be revived and completed so that it can benefit the residents.
Social Health Authority (SHA) officials during a registration exercise at Nyayo Gardens in Nakuru on July 23, 2025.
Ms Maingi said the government is investing heavily in her political stronghold and told her constituents not pull out from it.
“Roads and markets are being built in Mwea Constituency and we should stay in government and support the President,” said Ms Maingi.
And Ms Kagiri dismissed claims by opposition that the government had failed Kenyans.
“In Laikipia there was insecurity but these days people are going about their businesses without problems. Security has improved and we must say so because it is the truth. The government has done a lot and we as leaders we must tell the residents,” said Ms Kagiri.
On Friday last week, Kakamega Governor urged CS Duale to revise SHA policies on payments as well.
“What I want to request from the Ministry of Health led by Aden Duale is that once counties make payments for SHA, let our people get the services required.
You must also look at paying private health facilities and especially missionary health facilities such as St Mary’s Mission Hospital that has now been closed due to lack of payments,” he told CS Duale.
In an official letter dated 7th August 2025, private hospitals across the country said will no longer treat civil servants unless they pay in cash following the government’s failure to release payments over nine months.
The Kenya Healthcare Federation (KHF) chair Dr Kanyenje Gakombe informed SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi that private healthcare providers can no longer sustain the financial burden of treating public servants without compensation from the government’s health insurance scheme.
In an official email response obtained by Nation, Dr Mwangangi admitted that indeed private health facilities have not been paid by SHA.
“Dear Providers, this communication is well noted. SHA is engaging all requisite MDAs to fast track all payments for adjudicate and approved claims,” Dr Mwangangi pleaded with KHF who maintain that they have no choice but to request public servants to pay for both past and future medical bills directly then seek reimbursement from their employers and/or SHA.
