A serious problem seems to be growing at Kenyatta National Hospital after several patients reported that their Social Health Authority coverage is being deactivated right after discharge.
One parent recently shared their experience, saying that their twin daughters were born under active SHA cover, but once they were discharged, the hospital said the coverage had been removed.
The result was a bill of Ksh 300,000, which the family could not afford. The hospital gave no clear explanation, and this parent says they found at least three more people with the same issue.
This shows that it might not be a one-time mistake, but rather a larger issue in how KNH is handling SHA accounts.
This is happening at the same time KNH introduced a new policy on July 24, 2025, where anyone being admitted must either have an active SHA membership or pay cash upfront.
If it’s an emergency, they will still be treated, but for everyone else, it’s either SHA or cash.
This change, announced by the hospital’s acting CEO Dr. William Sigilai, has made the situation worse for many patients, especially those who thought they were covered by SHA only to find out their cover was removed without warning.
This issue connects to earlier SHA troubles. In January 2025, SHA services at KNH were down for more than two days.
During that time, patients couldn’t get treatment, and some were stranded. KNH claimed to fix the issue, but now these recent complaints suggest deeper problems remain.
Many Kenyans have turned to social media, saying SHA is no better than the old NHIF and calling it a scam. They believe the system is broken and meant to make money, not help patients.
The Ministry of Health has been monitoring SHA since it replaced NHIF in 2024, with the goal of improving healthcare access. Yet, even after a fact-finding visit to KNH in November 2024, nothing has been done to solve these recent problems.
Meanwhile, 31 health facilities have already been shut down for SHA fraud, showing the problem is not limited to KNH. What’s happening now is causing patients real harm.
People leave hospitals thinking they are covered, only to find themselves in debt or refused treatment.
This is not how a health system should work. Without urgent action from KNH and the Ministry of Health, more patients may suffer.
Add Comment