"Seek the truth": Mosiria tells Ruto SHA is not working
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Geoffrey Mosiria has urged President William Ruto to seek an independent assessment of SHA from ordinary Kenyans
- The Nairobi County official raised concerns over patients allegedly being asked for cash at higher-level facilities
- Mosiria wants patients, healthcare workers and independent experts consulted directly to establish whether fraud, delayed reimbursements or implementation failures are affecting access to care
Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has urged President William Ruto to seek an independent account of how the Social Health Authority (SHA) is performing on the ground.
Mosiria, who currently serves as the Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service in the Nairobi County Government, raised concerns over reports that some patients are being asked to make cash payments despite being covered by SHA.
He said SHA was introduced with the right intention of expanding access to healthcare after replacing the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), but warned that implementation challenges could undermine public confidence in the programme.
“Mr president, Kenyans need to tell you the truth about what is happening on the ground with the Social Health Authority (SHA),” Mosiria said.
He pointed to reports of patients being asked to pay cash when referred from Level 4 facilities to Level 5 or Level 6 hospitals, particularly when the SHA system is unavailable or experiencing technical difficulties.
“A system failure should not become a reason for a sick person to be denied urgent medical care,” he said.
Mosiria also raised concerns over allegations that some hospitals could be submitting claims to SHA while simultaneously asking patients to pay for services they believe should be covered.
He called for an independent and transparent assessment of the programme, particularly in public hospitals, rather than relying solely on reports from officials involved in its implementation.
What does Mosiria want investigated?
Mosiria said the assessment should establish whether hospitals are demanding cash for services covered by SHA, whether facilities are submitting claims while also charging patients, and how frequently system failures prevent patients from accessing treatment.
He also wants authorities to examine whether hospitals are receiving SHA reimbursements on time, whether there is fraud or abuse within the claims and payment system, and why patients referred to higher-level facilities sometimes face difficulties accessing care.
The county official further urged the president to hear directly from patients, doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and independent healthcare experts.
“Kenyans do not want SHA to fail. They want it to work,” Mosiria said.
He argued that if the programme is being sabotaged, those responsible should be identified, while genuine weaknesses in the system should be addressed.
Details of Kenya Health Summit 2026
The concerns come as Kenya holds the Kenya Health Summit 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi from August 18 to 19.
The summit has brought together government, healthcare institutions, development partners, the private sector, professional bodies and civil society to assess progress and agree on priorities for improving healthcare delivery.
On Tuesday night, Ruto presided over a Presidential Town Hall at KICC, where Kenyans had an opportunity to raise questions and concerns about the country's healthcare system, including ongoing reforms.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.