MP Lotee: SHA has outperformed NHIF, won confidence of 32 million Kenyans

MP Titus Lotee defended the performance of the Social Health Authority (SHA) during an interview on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. He claimed that SHA had outperformed the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and gained the confidence of 32 million Kenyans, compared to 16 million registered under NHIF. Lotee described SHA as an upgraded version of NHIF, noting that the new system provided expanded healthcare services to beneficiaries.

He emphasized that the rise in registrations should not be dismissed as an indicator of SHA's performance, asserting that the numbers revealed Kenyans' willingness to access healthcare through the new scheme. He also highlighted that SHA offered services unavailable under NHIF, such as cancer treatment. However, his claims were met with skepticism, as the interviewer questioned whether the number of registered individuals necessarily represented the count of Kenyans actively contributing to the scheme.

Lotee acknowledged the lack of an exact figure but maintained that the number of contributors under SHA was higher than under NHIF. He mentioned that SHA attracted contributors from various backgrounds, including salaried workers, businesspeople, and those making voluntary contributions. His remarks came as the government pushed for the strengthening of SHA's operations, ensuring Kenyans could access healthcare through contracted facilities.

The Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, and SHA reached an agreement on October 5, 2026, concerning the contracting of county public health facilities under the 2026-2029 HAKIKA contracting cycle. This framework aimed to address counties' concerns over contracting requirements, documentation, claim payments, and regulatory compliance.

The parties agreed that county health facilities would retain individual contracts, with county governments recognized as contracting parties. This arrangement was intended to ensure eligible county health facilities were contracted and paid on time, allowing them to continue serving SHA beneficiaries. Existing contracts were extended until October 14, 2026, providing county facilities with additional time to complete the new contracting process.

SHA was expected to conduct HAKIKA contracting clinics across all counties to assist health facilities in fulfilling the new requirements. The Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, and SHA emphasized that these measures were intended to ensure the continuity of healthcare services for beneficiaries.