NAIROBI– Dr Mercy Mwangangi, one of Kenya’s most recognisable voices in health policy, officially assumed office Tuesday as Chief Executive Officer of the Social Health Authority (SHA), stepping into a role that comes with both high stakes and high expectations.
Her appointment, confirmed in April after a competitive search that drew 92 applicants, comes at a crucial time. The SHA fund tasked with overseeing the rollout of Kenya’s ambitious universal health coverage plan is still recovering from leadership turbulence and questions over its credibility.
Dr Mwangangi replaces Elijah Wachira, who was dismissed last year over concerns related to professional conduct and performance.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale praised the appointment as a “fresh start” for the authority.
“She brings over 15 years of experience in health financing and policy,” said Mr Duale in a statement announcing her new role. “Dr Mwangangi has led major reforms in our health sector before, and we are confident she will drive this institution forward.”
Until this week, Dr Mwangangi served as Senior Director for Health Systems Strengthening at AMREF Health Africa, where she played a key role in securing funding for public health initiatives across the continent. Her work focused heavily on expanding access to primary healthcare and preparing African systems for public health emergencies.
In government, she previously served as Chief Administrative Secretary at the Ministry of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining public recognition for her role in Kenya’s response.
Her return to public service comes at a time when the SHA is expected to accelerate the shift to a new social health insurance model, replacing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The move is part of the government’s broader plan to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for millions of Kenyans.
But observers say success will depend not just on leadership, but on managing deep-rooted structural challenges.
“SHA needs more than a figurehead,” said Dr Caroline Kihara, a public health policy analyst based in Nairobi. “It needs someone who can rebuild trust, fix the technical issues, and show real results on the ground.”
Dr Mwangangi has signalled that she understands the scale of the task ahead.
“This is about delivering on a promise to the Kenyan people,” she said in a brief statement following her appointment. “Access to healthcare should not depend on where you live or how much you earn. That’s the work we must do now together.”
Her tenure begins immediately, with the Ministry of Health confirming she will oversee ongoing reforms aimed at simplifying access to health services and improving transparency in health spending.
For a country still grappling with gaps in its public health system, the next few months under Dr Mwangangi’s watch will be closely watched.
