Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, dismissing critics as pessimistic leaders who do not have the country’s best interests at heart.
He said the government remains confident that the health scheme will succeed and benefit millions of Kenyans.
Speaking on Tuesday while inspecting development projects in Runyenjes Constituency, Embu County, Kindiki said the programme will continue to grow despite concerns raised by some leaders.
“The government aims to register tens of millions of Kenyans in the coming months, with a long-term goal of covering the entire population,” he said.
The Deputy President explained that SHA is meant to expand access to healthcare, unlike the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), which he said reached only a small portion of the population.
He urged Kenyans to be patient, saying the new system will improve with time and eventually transform healthcare in the country.
Kindiki added that the programme is already helping reduce the pressure of high hospital bills on families.
He acknowledged that there have been early challenges but assured the public that the government is working to fix them and improve services, including increasing coverage to meet medical costs.
At the same time, he criticised opposition leaders, accusing them of attacking government projects after failing to deliver when they were in power. He said their remarks should not discourage Kenyans from supporting ongoing reforms.
During the visit, Kindiki toured the Karurumo ESP Market and the Kanyuambora-Kamumu-Siakago Road, which are part of major development projects in the county.
He said he remains focused on serving Kenyans and making good use of his time in office, urging residents to ignore misleading information and support development efforts.
