The government has reached an agreement with the leadership of St Mary’s Mumias Mission Hospital to resolve long-standing disputes over Social Health Authority (SHA) claims, ensuring continued delivery of healthcare services to residents.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that a clear roadmap has been agreed upon to settle outstanding claims while safeguarding uninterrupted hospital operations. He confirmed that the Social Health Authority has already paid Sh98 million in pending bills since December, with a further Sh14 million set to be released once documentation is completed.
Duale emphasized that the resolution should end political debates surrounding the hospital. He urged leaders to stop using St Mary’s Mumias as a subject in funerals and political gatherings, warning that he would confront such narratives directly.
The Cabinet Secretary outlined SHA’s ongoing efforts to settle claims across Kakamega County, including Sh72 million for primary healthcare services and Sh166 million for the facility’s Level 5 services. An initial disbursement of Sh100 million has been scheduled for September 14.
He defended SHA reforms, stressing that the new framework was created to seal loopholes that previously allowed abuse of public funds. Duale insisted that accountability is central to the system, noting that no resources could be misappropriated under the current structure. He further revealed that legacy claims amounting to Sh5.3 billion from the defunct NHIF would be settled within two months, once a supplementary budget is approved by Parliament.
On his part, Bishop Joseph Obanyi of the Kakamega Catholic Diocese acknowledged that delayed payments had previously led to staff strikes at the hospital but expressed optimism following the agreement. He noted that Sh34 million would be directed to clearing salary arrears, while Sh10 million under verification would further stabilize operations.
The Bishop welcomed the government’s commitment, highlighting that collaboration between the Church, the State, and SHA would be crucial to sustaining affordable healthcare. He reiterated the importance of ensuring that the people of Kakamega continue to access medical services without interruption.
The Cabinet Secretary also announced that once St Mary’s Mumias Hospital fully reopens, it will be restocked with medicines and host a free medical camp to support the local community.
