- Health CS Aden Duale met US officials to discuss digitisation and health reforms.
- The talks covered curbing SHA fraud, supply chain stability, and disease control.
- President Ruto stated that SHA will overcome the current challenges and address fraud claims.
- The government insists digitisation will seal loopholes that weakened NHIF.
President William Ruto has assured Kenyans that the Social Health Authority (SHA) will not collapse despite the storm around it. Speaking at the state House after meeting grassroots leaders from Kiambu, Ruto admitted the system has challenges but promised they will be fixed.
“SHA must work, and it will work,” the Head of State firmly declared. He added that the government is using technology to seal the gaps that sank the old NHIF.
Earlier on Wednesday, Health CS Aden Duale revealed that he held a meeting with a US delegation led by Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns. He was joined by Treasury CS John Mbadi, where the two sides discussed key areas of cooperation in the health sector.
Among the main points were sustainable health financing, supply chain reforms, digitisation of hospital systems, and tackling SHA fraud. Duale also noted that Kenya remains a priority partner under the Global Health Security framework.
The CS highlighted ongoing collaboration between Kenya and the United States in fighting diseases like malaria and HIV. To strengthen this, both sides agreed to form a Joint Technical Working Group that will push deeper cooperation under the BETA Taifa Care model.
“We celebrated the historic US–Kenya partnership in malaria, HIV and disease surveillance,” Duale said, stressing the need for reliable and modern health structures.
Duale also used the moment to dismiss media reports that linked SHA to fraudulent payments and insider dealings. A local newspaper had claimed billions were being diverted to politically connected hospitals, but the CS called the story misleading.
“No amount of propaganda or blackmail will stop us from cleaning the health sector,” he warned. “Saboteurs may try to derail us, but we will not rest until every Kenyan can access dignified and affordable healthcare.”
