President William Ruto has hit back at claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the Social Health Authority (SHA) could collapse within six months, dismissing the remarks as unfounded and politically motivated.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 1, during the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Annual General Meeting at State House, Nairobi, the Head of State said he had taken time to investigate the source of the claims—only to conclude they lacked credibility.
Ruto Questions Source of Claims
In a sharp and humorous rebuttal, the President suggested that the information cited by Gachagua was not based on facts or official reports.
“The other day, one of them claimed that SHA would collapse in six months, and because I am the President, I tried to investigate where he got the information from,” Ruto said.
“Nikagundua kumbe alienda akaongea na waganga na wachawi ndio wakamuambia hivyo,” he added, implying the claims were based on superstition rather than evidence.
Government Defends SHA Stability
Ruto maintained that the Social Health Authority remains stable and fully operational, accusing critics of spreading misinformation to undermine government programmes.
He noted that similar narratives had been used in the past to discredit key national projects, including infrastructure developments and economic initiatives.
“It is not the first time. These are the same individuals who claimed we had sold public assets and that major road projects had stalled,” he said.
The President insisted that his administration would respond to criticism through tangible results rather than political exchanges.
Gachagua’s Concerns and Parliamentary Findings
Earlier, Gachagua had warned that SHA risks financial instability, citing delayed reimbursements to health facilities and concerns raised by a parliamentary committee.
According to the findings, although millions of Kenyans have registered under the scheme, only a fraction are actively contributing, raising sustainability questions.
Despite these concerns, the government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the health financing model and ensuring universal access to healthcare services.
Support for Women’s Groups
During the same event, President Ruto also pledged financial support to the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation, promising to clear outstanding tax arrears amounting to KSh900 million.
He further committed to contributing KSh250 million to the group once it establishes a savings and credit cooperative (SACCO), as part of broader efforts to empower women economically.
