SHA officials pose as patients in bid to silence protesting hospitals
Health & Science
By
Mercy Kahenda
| Sep 24, 2025
Uncovering the rot at the Social Health Authority (SHA) has seemingly angered the government, which is now allegedly resorting to intimidation and threats against hospitals that have spoken out about their financial struggles.
A staggering Sh76 billion is owed to hospitals across the country, comprising Sh43 billion under SHA and a further Sh33 billion from the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The mounting debt has left both private and public health facilities teetering on the brink of collapse, with many unable to pay staff salaries or procure essential medicines and medical supplies.
On Monday, the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (Rupha) announced its withdrawal from SHA services, demanding the immediate settlement of outstanding claims.
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However, rather than addressing the crisis, SHA has reportedly begun targeting private and faith-based health facilities with threats and covert surveillance.
Sources within the healthcare sector claim SHA officials are visiting and calling hospitals anonymously, with some allegedly disguising themselves as patients to gather information on whether facilities are still offering SHA services.
“Hospital owners and officials are receiving anonymous phone calls from SHA staff. There has been a spike in these calls, and it appears to be a coordinated effort to intimidate health facilities,” said an official at one of the affected hospitals.
A leaked memo and alarming reports from hospitals suggest that SHA may be monitoring facilities that have suspended services over unpaid claims.
In one incident, individuals posing as patients reportedly entered hospital wards, questioning actual patients about their admissions, out-of-pocket payments, and SHA registration. A leaked internal memo, dated 22 September 2025 at 2:31pm, shows SHA instructed County Branch Managers to visit all RUPHA-affiliated hospitals and document whether they were still offering SHA services. This directive came just hours after RUPHA publicly announced its withdrawal from the government scheme.
“Management urgently requests your support in identifying facilities that may be turning away SHA beneficiaries,” the memo states.
Managers were asked to mark each facility with a “YES” or “NO” and submit daily updates. However, several hospitals listed were not RUPHA members, raising questions about SHA’s intelligence gathering.
Efforts by The Standard to obtain a comment from SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi were unsuccessful.
RUPHA, which represents over 700 private and faith-based hospitals, formally instructed its members to notify patients that services would now be on a cash basis. The decision follows months of unpaid claims, leaving facilities struggling financially.
Numerous hospitals confirmed to The Standard that they have ceased SHA-based admissions altogether.
A facility in Busia County, whose identity has been withheld due to fear of retaliation, revealed it is developing new protocols for patient admission to ensure long-term sustainability.
The hospital is owed Sh12 million, including Sh5 million from SHA and Sh8 million from NHIF, and has not received payment for the last eight months. It previously staffed by 25 employees, has lost many due to unpaid salaries. Basic services including maternity, chronic care, and general inpatient treatment are now severely affected.
“We’re flying blind. There’s no guidance from SHA, and staff morale is at an all-time low,” the official added.