Clinical officers’ union boss claims cartels in defunct NHIF now sabotaging SHA implementation

Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) Chairman Peterson Wachira. He has alleged that cartels within the Ministry of Health are sabotaging SHA. (Photo: X/Peterson Wachira)

By Rachael Mutabasi
Tuesday, February 18, 2025

The national chairman of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) Peterson Wachira has alleged that cartels within the Ministry of Health (MoH) are sabotaging the Social Health Authority (SHA) the same way they did with the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Speaking on Tuesday, hours after clinical officers commenced their strike, Wachira claimed that these cartels are the root cause of the ongoing challenges that Kenyans are facing with the new public health scheme.

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"We are here because of cartels. During Mutahi Kagwe's time, we as unions raised concerns about cartels at NHIF and MoH, but Kagwe dismissed us. Yet later, he admitted that the ministry is full of cartels," Wachira said during a live broadcast on Nation FM.

"I want to make it clear to Kenyans that the cartels from NHIF are still thriving under SHA," he said.

The clinical officers' strike is fuelled by dissatisfaction with the new public health scheme, which continues to face system failures, patient verification issues and hospital reimbursement discrepancies.

Transition hitches

Wachira's comments come as the transition from NHIF to SHA is plagued by these ongoing problems, intensifying frustration among the public.

Despite these challenges, Kenyans are still obligated to contribute 2.75 per cent of their monthly income to the scheme.

In addition to the operational issues, clinical officers are protesting their exclusion from offering services through SHA and demanding the recognition and empanelment of health providers licensed by the Clinical Officers Council.

Their demands also include the reinstatement of their rights within SHA, as well as the fulfilment of agreements made in a previous return-to-work deal that covered promotions, comprehensive medical cover, and the confirmation of clinical officers in permanent and pensionable positions.

"The resolutions regarding the contracting, empanelling of facilities, and payment of benefits to licensed facilities and practitioners by the Clinical Officers Council through the Social Health Authority have yet to be implemented," KUCO stated, adding to the reasons behind the strike that started at midnight on Monday.

Despite a previous strike being suspended last month following government assurances, the clinical officers have pledged to continue their strike until all their demands are addressed.

Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has asked the public to be patient as her ministry is currently reviewing the scheme's benefits and tariffs, with updates expected on March 1.

Meanwhile, Wachira has urged the government to take strong action against the cartels, emphasising the need for them to be dealt with to ensure the public health system works effectively for Kenyans.