Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has criticised the Social Health Authority (SHA), raising concerns over its cost, priorities, and sustainability just months after its rollout.
In a statement posted on X, Salasya questioned reports that the SHA software cost Sh103 billion, arguing that the funds could have been better used to address long-standing healthcare challenges.
He said the amount far exceeded the Sh33 billion in National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) arrears owed to hospitals, accumulated over decades.
The legislator argued that clearing NHIF arrears would have stabilised public hospitals, enabling them to pay doctors and nurses, stock essential drugs, and improve infrastructure.
He added that remaining funds could then have been directed to inpatient and critical care services that place the heaviest financial burden on Kenyan families.
Salasya dismissed government emphasis on registering millions of Kenyans under SHA, saying enrolment figures alone do not address the real problems facing the healthcare system.
He noted that basic services such as malaria treatment, dental care, and maternity at dispensary level rarely require public fundraising, unlike complex conditions such as cancer, kidney failure, tuberculosis, major surgeries, and other critical illnesses.
“These are the areas the government should have prioritised,” he said, arguing that SHA should focus on cushioning Kenyans from catastrophic health costs rather than administrative expansion.
The Mumias East MP further claimed that SHA is already facing arrears of about Sh43 billion within months of operation and is now relying on the Exchequer, raising questions about its long-term viability.
He described the situation as worrying, warning that continued dependence on Treasury support could strain public finances.
Salasya urged Kenyans to assess the healthcare reforms objectively, saying the debate should rise above political camps.
He positioned himself as neither pro- nor anti-government, insisting his focus is on building a healthcare system that supports a stronger economy for future generations.
His remarks add to growing public debate over the transition from NHIF to SHA, with stakeholders calling for clarity on costs, benefits, and accountability in the new health financing model.