The head of Special Presidential Projects and Creative Economy, Denis Itumbi, has responded to activist Hanifa Adan’s public struggle to secure ear surgery amid high medical costs and insurance challenges.
Itumbi’s comments, made on social media, defend the government‑backed Social Health Insurance (SHA) scheme and encourage her to engage the programme fully before critiquing it.
In her original post on X, Adan detailed a year‑long battle to access ear surgery, describing how major private hospitals quoted upward of Ksh 500,000 per ear.
She said her AAR insurance would not cover surgeon or anesthetist fees unless paid in cash upfront — roughly Ksh 300,000 — making the total cost prohibitive.
The activist also reported that facilities including a missionary hospital and the private wing of Kenyatta National Hospital did not accept her insurance, and that one hospital continued to offer only medication without surgery.
Reacting to these claims, Itumbi acknowledged that political differences between citizens and government are legitimate, but asserted that “health is not politics.”
In a statement, he said SHA works and encouraged Adan to subscribe and use the service.
“You may have political differences with the Government. That is your right,” Itumbi wrote.
“But your health is not politics. SHA works. Do not let ‘Must Go’ activism block you from medical cover. Get the SHA subscription. Use it. Then come back with your testimony."
Itumbi emphasised the transformative impact of SHA, citing personal anecdotes of villagers previously engaged in weekly fundraising for hospital bills.
“Some of us were fundraising for hospital bills every week in the village. SHA changed that,” he said. “Bora upone and the bill is sorted by SHA, you can always go back and say ‘Must Go’ because SHA works. No problem.”
In her original message, Adan warned of potential complete hearing loss without timely surgery, and lamented the limited acceptance of her insurance across facilities.
Her post resonated widely, prompting public debate about access to affordable specialist care.
Itumbi’s response positions SHA as a ready solution and urges individuals to leverage it before drawing broader conclusions about healthcare coverage.