Uriri Member of Parliament Mark Nyamita has launched sharp criticism at former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, accusing it of weakening the country’s health sector. Nyamita described Uhuru’s election as “the biggest trial and error” Kenya has ever made, adding that the healthcare policies introduced under his tenure left many Kenyans struggling to access medical services.
Speaking in a recent address, the MP singled out the Linda Mama program, which was introduced during the Jubilee government. The initiative was designed to provide free maternal healthcare through the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). However, Nyamita argued that the scheme failed to deliver on its promises, noting that mothers seeking treatment were often turned away despite being eligible under the program.
He further drew comparisons between NHIF and the new Social Health Authority (SHA), which has replaced it. According to Nyamita, both systems have presented challenges to patients. He explained that while NHIF required long waiting periods for patients to receive care, the SHA model has created an upfront burden for families. “In NHIF, if someone went to hospital you had to wait two months,” he said. “Today, with SHA, you’re being asked to pay upfront to save yourself.”
The legislator shared the case of a woman suffering from kidney disease who was recently discharged from Kenyatta National Hospital after a bill of KSh 900,000 was allegedly settled. Nyamita said the case reflected the heavy financial pressure Kenyans continue to face despite the existence of government healthcare schemes, although he did not clarify whether the entire bill had been covered.
Nyamita dismissed attempts to directly compare Linda Mama and SHA, insisting that the two programs are not the same and should not be measured against each other. He maintained that the shortcomings of the previous administration left a health sector riddled with inefficiencies, a situation the current government continues to grapple with.
On its part, the Social Health Authority has defended its performance by pointing to the funds it has mobilized since its creation. Officials reported that the scheme has collected KSh 70 billion since inception, compared to KSh 45 billion gathered by NHIF over its entire lifespan.
Despite these figures, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale disclosed that SHA is already facing accountability issues. He revealed that claims worth KSh 3 billion are under review because of missing documentation, while another KSh 2.1 billion is being re-examined for possible irregularities. In addition, he said claims amounting to KSh 10.6 billion have been rejected altogether due to fraud concerns, including cases of falsified records, inflated bills, and payments sought for non-existent patients.
Nyamita’s remarks have added fresh weight to the ongoing debate on Kenya’s healthcare financing and the effectiveness of government-led insurance schemes. While political criticism of past administrations is not new, his description of Uhuru’s election as a national “trial and error” reflects the growing scrutiny over policies that shaped Kenya’s social welfare systems.
IMAGE COURTESY OF MARK NYAMITA FACEBOOK
