President William Ruto has appealed to Kenyans to give his administration two to three more years to fully streamline the Social Health Authority (SHA), admitting that the transition has faced serious challenges. Speaking candidly, the President used the phrase “Mkinipatia miaka mbili, tatu, nitanyorosha SHA kama risasi,” loosely translating to a promise that the system will be straightened out and made efficient if given more time.
The remarks come amid widespread public frustration over the rollout of SHA, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Many Kenyans have complained about system failures, unclear contribution structures, hospital rejections, and confusion over benefits. For low-income earners and informal sector workers, access to healthcare has become more uncertain, making SHA one of the most controversial reforms under the Kenya Kwanza government.
President Ruto defended the reform by arguing that SHA is a long-term project designed to deliver universal health coverage and eliminate inefficiencies that plagued NHIF. According to him, the problems being experienced now are part of a difficult transition phase. He insisted that once the system is stabilized, Kenyans will enjoy better, more affordable, and more transparent healthcare services.
Critics, however, remain unconvinced. Opponents argue that healthcare is too critical a sector to experiment with, and that ordinary citizens are paying the price for poor planning and rushed implementation. They question why Kenyans should wait several more years for a system that directly affects lives, especially when hospitals are already struggling and patients are being turned away.
The President’s plea for time reflects a broader pattern in governance, where major reforms are introduced with ambitious promises but face resistance when implementation gaps emerge. Whether Kenyans will be patient enough to wait for SHA to “run like a bullet” remains uncertain, especially in a political climate already strained by high taxes, rising living costs, and shrinking household incomes.
As pressure mounts, the success or failure of SHA may ultimately shape public trust in the government’s reform agenda. For many Kenyans, the question is no longer about promises, but about when tangible improvements in healthcare will finally be felt on the ground.
