Uriri Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Nyamita has sharply criticized former President Uhuru Kenyatta, claiming his administration crippled Kenya’s health sector. Speaking during a public forum, Nyamita described Uhuru’s election as “the biggest trial and error” the country has faced.
The legislator took issue with Kenyatta’s defense of the Linda Mama program, which provided maternity services under the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). According to Nyamita, the initiative was unsustainable, as many women were still denied care at county hospitals despite its promise of free services.
“When Uhuru compared Linda Mama to SHA, it is not comparable. There was nothing free even at that time. Women were turned away because it was not sustainable,” Nyamita remarked.
He contrasted the NHIF era with the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA), noting that patients today have access to quicker interventions. He cited a case where a kidney patient at Kenyatta National Hospital was discharged after her Ksh.900,000 bill was settled under SHA, though he could not confirm if the full amount was covered.
SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi has reported that the new contributory fund has collected Ksh.70 billion since inception, compared to NHIF’s Ksh.45 billion over its lifespan. However, concerns have been raised about how SHA disburses funds.
Health CS Aden Duale revealed that claims worth Ksh.3 billion are under re-evaluation due to missing documents, with another Ksh.2.1 billion under surveillance for possible irregularities. The ministry has also rejected Ksh.10.6 billion in fraudulent claims, including upcoding, falsified records, and billing for non-existent patients.
As scrutiny intensifies, questions remain about SHA’s sustainability and accountability. Nonetheless, Nyamita insists the fund marks an improvement over Uhuru’s policies, which he dismissed as failed experiments that left many Kenyans struggling to access healthcare.
