DP Kindiki Reveals Fresh Review of SHA Contributions After MPs’ Outcry

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has promised a review of the means-testing tool of the Social Health Authority (SHA) days after Members of Parliament complained the system is not working.

SHA uses means testing to assess households’ financial capacity, especially those without salaries, to set health insurance contributions. The process considers housing, access to services, household composition, and other socio-economic factors. 

While speaking during the Launch of the Strategic Plan 2024-2027 in Embu County on Saturday, February 1, Kindiki revealed that the review of the system is to allow for the onboarding of Kenyans who are at the bottom of the pyramid—like mama mbogas and boda boda riders.

“I want to commit on behalf of the government that we will make sure we relook at and adjust the means testing tool for Taifa Care… to make sure the boda boda riders will not be asked to pay what they cannot afford,” Kindiki said. This review is to determine how much unsalaried Kenyans will contribute to the scheme.

This is as MPs expressed discontent over the 2.75 per cent deduction from salaried workers’ pay slips for SHA contributions. The disparity in payments is what has led to many questioning the scheme and the plans the government has.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, who is among a slew of MPs who have voiced concerns over the scheme, questioned the logic behind the contributions. “Why are 18 million people registered but only about four million are paying members? These things need to be addressed,” she asked the Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, SHA Acting Chief Executive Officer Robert Ingasira, and board chairman Abdi Mohamed during a retreat in Naivasha earlier this week.

But Kindiki has remained resolute, saying, “We will continue to improve this health cover so that we can ensure no Kenyan is feeling squeezed by the deductions.” He did not indicate there are any plans to review contributions by salaried Kenyans who continue to receive a deduction of 2.7 per cent.

Kindiki was addressing calls from MPs who this week expressed frustrations about the new health system, calling for a review and questioning the operational failures of the multibillion-shilling scheme.

Lawmakers, while meeting in Naivasha, set aside party loyalties for the first time and took aim at President William Ruto’s initiative. Leading the charge, Millie Odhiambo proposed that the government allow SHIF a six-month test run, after which it should revert to NHIF if the scheme continues to falter. 

“The PS has the vision, but the implementation is a problem. My suggestion is that you give yourself six months so that if this SHIF fails, we go back to NHIF,” said Odhiambo. 

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, a vocal government critic, dismissed SHIF as a ‘scam’ and questioned whether the public had been adequately consulted before its implementation.

“The scheme is susceptible to system failures and slow processing speeds. SHA is just a scam that needs to be abolished completely. Cancer patients and others suffering from chronic illnesses are suffering across the country,” lamented Salasya.

However, while insisting there will be a review, Kindiki doubled down on the government’s intent to continue with the scheme, praising the 18 million Kenyans who have registered so far. “We want to push that figure upwards so that every Kenyan will have a medical card,” he said.