Social Health Authority (SHA) CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi has moved to calm rising concerns that the new scheme could collapse due to financial strain.
In a Citizen TV interview, Mwangangi reassured Kenyans that the programme is not on the verge of failing, insisting that SHA has the resources to handle hospital claims and protect contributors’ money.
“We are not running dry. SHA will not sink. We have enough resources to service claims, and Kenyans should not panic,” she said.
She revealed that claims worth Sh82 billion have been lodged so far, but more than Sh10 billion were rejected due to missing documents or suspicious submissions.
At the same time, she disclosed that the Authority is currently preparing billions for payouts, backed by healthy monthly collections of Sh6–7.3 billion.
According to Mwangangi, SHA generates around Sh90 billion annually, a move aimed at funding Universal Health Coverage (UHC) locally instead of relying on external borrowing. She emphasized that no payout will be made without thorough verification.
Health CS Aden Duale also weighed in, pointing out that President William Ruto’s administration is banking on SHA to provide sustainable healthcare financing for all Kenyans.
Meanwhile, the government has already leased medical equipment worth over Sh200 billion to boost hospitals nationwide without forcing taxpayers to shoulder heavy upfront costs.
