President William Ruto has responded to criticism surrounding the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, claiming that the ongoing narrative that the system is failing is being driven by cartels who previously benefited from the old system, not by civil servants.
Speaking on Monday during the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026 in Nairobi, which brought together 2,000 delegates from 40 countries, Ruto highlighted how changes in the health system had disrupted lucrative business models that once thrived under the previous setup.
Under the old system, the government spent around KSh 25.8 billion on teachers’ health benefits. However, Ruto revealed that spending has since been reduced to KSh 18.06 billion.
He pointed out that those who once profited from this multi-million-dollar scheme are now the same individuals responsible for creating negative narratives about the SHA.
“The fellows who used to make the 60 million are now sponsoring headlines against the new system. This is what you face when you make changes that create impact,” Ruto remarked.
The president explained that while teachers were once limited to receiving health services at just 900 hospitals, they now have access to over 6,000 to 7,000 hospitals, including all level-six hospitals, which was not the case previously.
“They only had access to one hospital, level six, but now they have no restrictions,” Ruto noted. This, he said, was a major improvement in the accessibility and quality of health services for teachers.
Ruto’s remarks came after teachers signed an agreement with the government abolishing SHA co-payments, and the government also expanded the medical cover to include more specialised services.
The president stressed the importance of Africa taking a more active role in shaping its health policies and outcomes.
He emphasised that Africa must not remain a passive participant in global health discussions, but rather, it should lead the way in defining its health priorities and solutions.
“Africa is no longer a passive participant in global health; we are now active architects of our own direction, priorities, and outcomes,” Ruto said.
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He further added that to achieve meaningful progress in health policy and innovation, Africa must place policy leadership, technology, and the mobilisation of domestic resources at the centre of the continent’s health transformation.
The president also underscored the critical importance of building Africa’s capacity to manufacture its own health commodities.
By Obegi Malack
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