Dennis Okari: SHA may have been built to fail from the start
Journalist Dennis Okari has voiced concerns over the functionality of the Social Health Authority (SHA), suggesting that the system may have been set up to fail from the start.
Speaking about the health body in a TV show on Monday, August 18, 2025, which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), Okari wondered why Kenyans are facing challenges despite the government deducting contributions regularly.
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According to Okari, the SHA inherited a lot of infrastructure from NHIF, meaning that setting up a functional system should not have been overly complicated. He argued that if contributions are being deducted, then there should be a transparent and efficient system in place that allows citizens to access healthcare services without unnecessary hurdles.
Follow the money trail
Okari stated that the problems within SHA might be linked to procurement and financial mismanagement. “We all understand what SHA is supposed to do, but what if this thing was created not to work? What if there is somebody who doesn’t want it to work? Because if money is being deducted, like we say, follow the money trail,” he said.
He added that the core of the issue lies in the failure to implement a straightforward digital integration process. The SHA was expected to roll out a system where, once an individual’s details are captured, any hospital would be able to retrieve their records instantly. This would ensure that contributors receive seamless services wherever they go.
However, delays and inefficiencies have continued to frustrate many Kenyans. Okari questioned why, after investing in new systems through procurement, the SHA is still struggling to meet its mandate. “This thing is not complicated; there’s a system,” he emphasized, highlighting that the lack of progress may point to deeper governance issues.
A call for accountability
The journalist’s remarks come at a time when public trust in government health schemes is wavering. For many Kenyans, deductions from their salaries continue every month, yet the reality of accessing healthcare services remains riddled with difficulties.
Okari’s sentiments echo broader frustrations from citizens who feel that, despite changes in name and structure, the core problems of inefficiency, mismanagement, and lack of accountability persist. His challenge to “follow the money trail” serves as a reminder that without transparency, the promise of affordable and accessible healthcare will remain unfulfilled.
