Lawyer Willis Otieno has strongly criticised Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s recent defence of the Social Health Authority (SHA), calling for government officials to prioritise tangible healthcare solutions over public relations statements.
Otieno’s remarks come amid growing public concern over the management, transparency, and effectiveness of SHA funds. In a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, August 31, 2025, Otieno pushed back on Mudavadi’s assurances, citing the realities faced by ordinary Kenyans in public hospitals.
“You cannot spin healthcare. Mothers in maternity wards, children in casualty, and patients on dialysis don’t consume press releases,” Otieno said. He argued that while SHA is promoted as a transformative step towards universal health coverage, many Kenyans still face inaccessible services, drug shortages, and poor infrastructure in public health facilities.
“Policy promises must translate into action at the ward level. What we are seeing is a growing gap between what is being said at the podium and what ordinary citizens are experiencing when they seek care,” he added.
Civil society organisations and critics have questioned the utilisation of SHA funds, noting weak accountability systems and limited communication to the public on how the authority operates, eligibility criteria, and the services it covers.
Mudavadi, however, defended SHA, stating that the authority is designed to provide services to empanelled and contracted healthcare providers on referral from primary healthcare facilities. Speaking at the burial of Malava UDA aspirant Enock Andanje on August 28, 2025, the Prime CS asserted that SHA ensures comprehensive services without imposing financial burdens on residents.
He also addressed claims of mismanagement at hospitals, citing St Mary’s Hospital in Mumias, which submitted a claim of Ksh117 million under SHA and has so far received Ksh82 million. “Those politicians using podiums to say that the government is behind the troubles are misleading the people,” Mudavadi said, emphasising that the Ministry of Health holds detailed records of disbursements and is ready to provide evidence.
Mudavadi assured Kenyans that the government is actively addressing shortfalls in SHA to improve access to quality medical care nationwide, while Otieno’s comments reflect a growing demand for accountability and tangible improvements in public health service delivery.
