President William Ruto Calls for Compliance with Health Insurance Coverage
President William Ruto has urged public health facilities to stop charging Kenyans who are registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) for medical services. He emphasized that any costs beyond what is covered by the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) should be claimed through SHA, not the patient.
“There are facilities in our counties that charge Kenyans for treatment or medicine when actually that service and the medicine is already paid for by the government of Kenya. It is not acceptable! Instead of charging citizens, hospitals should use the claim service to claim for any arrears,” Ruto said during an event at State House, Nairobi.
The President was addressing the launch of the National Equipment Service Project, a seven-year initiative designed to modernize and upgrade medical equipment across national and county health facilities. This project replaces the previous Medical Equipment Scheme (MES), which was being phased out due to inefficiencies.
Ruto described the new project as a game changer compared to the MES, which required significant upfront capital and lacked clear service level agreements, leading to frequent downtimes and compromised care. “The lessons learned have informed the design of the new programme to be more efficient, accountable, and sustainable,” he said.
A New Approach to Healthcare Infrastructure
The National Equipment Service Project operates on a Fee-for-Service model, eliminating the need for both national and county governments to budget for equipment procurement. Private sector partners will cover the costs of installation, servicing, and maintenance, ensuring no financial burden on public health facilities.
Since June 2025, over 60,000 medical services have been delivered in 29 health facilities across 18 counties under this project. Ruto announced the release of 14 CT scanners, 2 ultrasound machines, 30 dialysis machines, and digital X-ray systems. In the next two months, an additional 58 digital X-rays, 65 ultrasound machines, 19 CT scanners, 100 theatre equipment, and 100 laboratory systems are expected to be deployed.
Expanding Health Coverage for All Kenyans
Ruto highlighted that SHA has registered 25.2 million Kenyans and contracted over 11,000 healthcare providers nationwide, including hospitals, clinics, and health centers. Since October 2024, SHA has paid Sh56.4 billion, comprising Sh49.7 billion from the SHIF and Sh6.7 billion from the Primary Healthcare Fund.
He reiterated that every Kenyan registered with SHA should receive treatment and medication without paying anything. “It is our responsibility to make sure that the people are not left behind,” Ruto said.
Combating Fraud and Ensuring Accountability
The President warned against fraudulent claims targeting SHA, stating that the new digital infrastructure is secure and capable of detecting and eliminating such activities. “If you are trying to game the system, beware: You are already on our radar. The system is flagging such attempts, and investigations are ongoing. In due course, the outcomes will be made clear to all, and the fraudsters shall face the consequences of their criminal actions.”
Ruto called on counties and health sector players to install the equipment, emphasizing that only through unity, commitment, and vigilance can the full promise of the National Equipment Service Project be achieved.