RUPHA: No talks with govt on debt payment after SHA service suspension
The Rural Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) chairperson, Brian Lishenga, has confirmed the association is yet to receive any formal communication from the Health Ministry after private and faith-based health providers suspended SHA services.
In an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Lishenga warned that suspension is going to cause more harm in an already fragile healthcare system.
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“There have been no talks with the government since services were halted. Kenyans are not doing well. We have not even received a notice from the Ministry,” he said.
The RUPHA chair said the suspension affects a wide network of hospitals.
“Our provider network is just over 720 facilities, private facilities, but we are aware that there are also faith-based facilities joining our action. So we may be looking at close to 1,000 healthcare facilities,” Lishenga said.
The private and faith-based health providers are demanding that the government settle the Ksh10.6 billion in outstanding claims owed to a mix of private, public, and faith-based hospitals.
The debts, RUPHA says, are not contested and stem from the previous NHIF system, which has since been transitioned into SHA.
“We carried over Ksh33 billion in the NHIF era and have generated Ksh43 billion in claims. These figures are factual. They have not been disputed by the Social Health Authority,” RUPHA stated.
Also Watch: Private hospitals warn of December shutdown over NHIF debts
RUPHA faults Duale
RUPHA has also criticised Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale for his public comments, accusing him of fuelling tensions instead of resolving the underlying financial crisis.
“What has concerned us is that instead of addressing issues, we have seen the Cabinet Secretary insult hospitals, calling them thieves. For example, the rejection of claims worth Ksh 10.6 billion at the end of August; many thought these were claims from private hospitals. But even Kakamega County General Hospital had Ksh22 million rejected,” Lishenga explained.
Lishenga maintains that the claims are legitimate and that the government has failed to implement its directive issued on March 5, 2025, which called for the immediate clearance of pending claims.
“Nothing has happened. Instead, we have seen the CS say they will not pay without verification, but no verification process has been formed,” RUPHA said.
Deteriorating healthcare
Lishenga has raised an alarm that the ongoing payment delays have had a devastating impact on healthcare infrastructure and employment.
“In our association alone, nearly 100 hospitals have either shut down or been auctioned in the past 12 months,” he revealed.
“Suppliers, too, are feeling the pain. They supplied hospitals, took bank loans, and now they cannot get their money back. This is an existential crisis for sure.”
Additionally, Lishenga said that the SHA’s financial model is not working in Kenya due to socio-economic factors that make contributions hard.
“They expect people to contribute, but in such a country where the majority are unemployed, that is simply not viable,” he said.
RUPHA is demanding urgent action from the government to remedy the health crisis.
“We are on the ground. We know what is happening. When the President says he can walk into any hospital and get service, we wonder what country he is talking about,” the RUPHA chair said.
