Reject SHA Restrictions, Gachagua Tells Teachers
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticised the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, saying that it is failing teachers and limiting their access to adequate healthcare.
Speaking at a church service in Bamburi, Mombasa, Gachagua said the government has misrepresented the performance of the scheme. He described SHA as deeply flawed, arguing that it is struggling with inefficiency and mounting debt.
He claimed that teachers are particularly affected, as many are required to pay out of pocket for outpatient services despite being enrolled in the scheme. He also said they are restricted to county hospitals, which he described as underfunded and lacking essential medical supplies.
According to him, these facilities are owed large sums of money by SHA, affecting their ability to provide services. Gachagua said teachers are facing significant challenges in accessing care, noting that some must pay additional costs while being directed to facilities that cannot meet their needs.
He urged educators to resist limits placed on their choice of healthcare providers and called for greater flexibility in accessing services. He also encouraged teachers’ unions to consider industrial action to pressure the government to replace SHA with an insurance-based model.
He warned that without reform, the programme could collapse and affect both patients and private healthcare providers. His remarks come amid ongoing concerns raised by teachers’ unions, including KNUT and KUPPET.
The unions have reported delays in treatment, system failures, and continued out-of-pocket payments, despite assurances of comprehensive coverage. They argue that these issues have reduced confidence in the scheme.
