Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a stark warning over the future of the country’s healthcare system, claiming that the Social Health Authority (SHA) could collapse within the next six months, potentially triggering a nationwide health crisis.
Speaking during a church service at ACK Diocese of Kirinyaga, Ndia Constituency in Kirinyaga County on Sunday, March 29, 2026, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader sounded an alarm over growing concerns over delayed payments to hospitals.
Gachagua said he had credible information indicating that the system is under severe financial strain.
“We have a big challenge with our hospitals. I have information that SHA will collapse in another six months, and there will be a major crisis of unknown magnitude in the health sector,” Gachagua warned.
At the centre of the looming crisis, according to Gachagua, is a massive debt owed to healthcare providers, particularly faith-based institutions.
He claimed that hospitals are currently owed up to Ksh90 billion, leaving many struggling to sustain operations.
“Today as we speak, our hospitals, especially the faith-based hospitals, are owed Ksh90 billion, and they are almost shutting down,” he said.
Immediate action
Gachagua urged hospitals to take immediate steps to safeguard their survival, including demanding the settlement of outstanding payments before continuing to offer services under the SHA scheme.
He further proposed that hospitals consider requiring upfront payments from SHA to avoid deeper financial exposure.
The former deputy president cautioned that failure to address the issue could have far-reaching consequences across the entire healthcare system.
“I want to give very humble advice to our hospitals: if SHA collapses, all our hospitals will collapse, and we will have a very big crisis. So, our hospitals should demand immediately the release of the Ksh90 billion they are owed before they render more services to the patients, because if they don’t, SHA will collapse, and those institutions will collapse. I propose and advise our hospitals to consider demanding upfront payments from SHA,” Gachagua said.
Health sector players have in recent months raised concerns over delayed reimbursements and operational challenges linked to the transition to the new health financing model.
Audit reports have also, in recent months, exposed fund misappropriation at SHA, with fraudulent claims being a main challenge to the national health insurer.
