'Revert Back To NHIF, Scrap SHA!' - MP Salasya Tells Gov't

‘Revert Back To NHIF, Scrap SHA!’ – MP Salasya Tells Gov’t

Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has urged the government to review the recently adopted Social Health Authority (SHA) and return to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), expressing concerns about the scheme’s performance.

Salasya, speaking in Naivasha on Thursday, January 30, 2024, questioned the implementation of SHA, querying whether appropriate public participation had occurred in its debut.

According to him, the scheme appears to benefit exclusively public hospitals, which are already overcrowded and unable to meet the increased demand for healthcare services.

“No 1, was there public participation? Because it seems to me there was no participation even with private hospitals because it seems it only supports public hospitals and there are not enough public hospitals and facilities to support the program,” Salasya noted.

Salasya’s views match those of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who only a week earlier lambasted the SHA for being rushed into implementation without proper planning.

Speaking during a live TikTok session on Thursday, January 23, 2025, Gachagua advocated for the abolition of the SHA and a return to the NHIF, which he feels has been more effective in providing healthcare coverage to Kenyans.

The former Mathira MP slammed the new healthcare project, calling it as expensive and poorly implemented, which has harmed Kenyans who contribute in the hope of receiving better care.

He questioned why the government did not opt to reform the NHIF system rather than introduce the new health scheme, which has been plagued by problems and failed to provide adequate services.

Gachagua explained that healthcare experts had encouraged the government to update the NHIF, which would be a more cost-effective choice than investing Ksh104 billion in the new plan.

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Gachagua also emphasized the new system’s financial impact, particularly on religiously affiliated health facilities such as the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church of East Africa.

“These hospitals are owed billions and now we have a new program without addressing what happened to their unpaid dues,” he noted.

The SHA issue has long focused attention on the government’s approach to healthcare.

Many have questioned if SHA can actually address Kneyans’ requirements, or whether NHIF is a more sustainable choice.

‘Revert Back To NHIF, Scrap SHA!’ – MP Salasya Tells Gov’t