Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticized the Kenyan government for its rushed transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), recently renamed "Taifa Care."
During an NTV interview, Gachagua called the move hasty and questioned the rationale behind abandoning the NHIF system.
He argued that upgrading NHIF would have cost only Ksh.700-800 million, compared to the Ksh.104 billion required for SHA implementation.
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Gachagua accused the government of prioritizing financial interests, alleging the process was marred by corruption. He claimed some members of President William Ruto’s economic advisory council had conflicts of interest, involving their spouses in SHA operations.
He described the transition as a “pure theft of public funds.” He criticized the government for coercing citizens into registering, citing cases where individuals faced threats of denied services if they refused enrollment.
SHA has faced backlash since its October roll-out, with Kenyans reporting limited access to healthcare and dissatisfaction over automatic NHIF-to-SHA enrollment without consent.
Critics, including the Council of Governors, also condemned the national government for sidelining them in implementation.
President Ruto and Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa have defended SHA, highlighting progress, including 15 million enrollees as of November.
Ruto assured Kenyans that once fully operational, Taifa Care would offer equitable, dignified healthcare. Barasa admitted challenges with public sensitization and urged political leaders to support awareness campaigns.
Gachagua, ousted in October through impeachment, maintained he was excluded from the policy's formulation.
He claimed his removal stemmed from opposing policies he viewed as harmful to Kenyans.
