A section of Kenya’s clergy has called on the Social Health Authority (SHA) to urgently release funds owed to hospitals, warning that delays are threatening access to essential healthcare services.
Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday, Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) said mounting debts owed by the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and SHA to private hospitals have forced some facilities to suspend services, leaving patients stranded.
“We demand with Kenyans that SHA put her house in order and prioritize payments of funds owed to all hospitals to enable them to continue to offer services,” Ole Sapit said. He emphasized that without prompt action, the government’s promise of universal healthcare could collapse due to inefficiencies, unpaid claims, and frustrated service providers.
The Archbishop also called on SHA to improve transparency and accountability in its operations to restore public confidence in the restructured health system.
Beyond healthcare, the clergy expressed concern over persistent challenges in the education sector. Ole Sapit highlighted delayed release of government capitation funds and rising learning costs as barriers that prevent thousands of children and young adults from accessing quality education. He noted that over 42,000 qualified students missed out on university placement this year due to affordability issues.
“The crisis in the education sector cannot just be wished away. Delayed capitation, coupled with an unaffordable education system, is putting learning beyond the reach of many. We call upon the government to release school and university funds on time,” he said.
The Archbishop also decried frequent university lecturers’ strikes, which disrupt academic calendars and strain parents’ finances. He urged the government to address lecturers’ grievances permanently to prevent recurrent industrial action.
On the political front, Ole Sapit appealed to leaders to exercise sobriety ahead of the 2027 elections, urging them to focus on service delivery rather than launching early campaigns.
