Ruto dismisses claims of Ksh1.2B SHA payment to ‘ghost company’

President William Ruto addressed claims that the government is paying a private "ghost company" billions of shillings, dismissing the reports during a speech at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on August 18, 2026. Ruto explained that the cost of the digital platform used to administer the Social Health Authority (SHA) services is covered within the five percent management expenditure approved for the scheme.

He stated that companies invest in digital platforms for health management, and the government pays for the service provided by these platforms. Ruto emphasized that the management cost of five percent includes the payment for the digital platform. In contrast, he noted that under the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), the management cost had reached 40 percent of collections at one point, but under SHA, the cost has been reduced to five percent.

Ruto rejected the notion that a private company received Ksh1.2 billion from hospitals, describing such reports as a fallacy. He clarified that hospitals pay the Digital Health Agency (DHA), as stipulated by law. The Ksh1.2 billion figure cited is for payments made to DHA, governed by legislation and regulations to ensure the protection of public funds.

Ruto assured the public that health facilities are required to pay two percent of the claim amount, with a maximum of Ksh5,000 per claim, and this is legally mandated. By maintaining transparency and adhering to legal frameworks, Ruto sought to reassure the public about the expenditures related to technology and digital health services under SHA.