President William Ruto has announced a nationwide rollout of biometric registration in public hospitals under the Social Health Authority (SHA) a move aimed at eliminating fraudulent claims and improving service delivery.
Speaking at State House Nairobi on Monday during a meeting with leaders from Tharaka-Nithi County, President Ruto said the system will replace the SMS-based identification method, which has been compromised by fraud. “Biometric registration will ensure that no one steals from us again,” President Ruto said. “It will allow accurate identification of patients and stop the misuse of health funds.”
The biometric rollout has started in Level 4 (sub-county), Level 5 (county referral), and Level 6 (national referral) hospitals. Registration at Level 2 dispensaries and Level 3 health centers will follow. The Ministry of Health launched the system in hospitals nationwide on Monday. The goal is to end widespread abuse that plagued the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
President Ruto revealed that since its launch in October 2024, SHA has disbursed KSh52 billion in health claims, more than double NHIF’s annual average of KSh20 billion. “We are seeing results,” the President said. “NHIF failed because it was hijacked by cartels. Hospitals had more accountants than health workers just to manufacture fraud.”
President Ruto warned hospitals still charging for outpatient services at primary care facilities. Ruto said the government has already paid KSh13 billion to cover these services under SHA and such charges are illegal. KSh8 billion has been allocated to the Emergency and Critical Care Fund to manage urgent cases. The President insisted the government’s reforms aim to ensure universal health access without discrimination.
Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, who chairs the Council of Governors’ health committee, backed the reforms, stating that SHA is already improving lives. “SHA is working. Poor families are now getting treated without delays. Ignore those who claim it doesn’t work,” Njuki told the gathering.
Tharaka-Nithi County has already registered 201,000 residents with SHA accounting for 52 percent of the local population.
The President highlighted reforms in education, housing, infrastructure, and water access.
President Ruto said public university fees had been reduced by up to 40 percent and university funding increased from KSh45 billion to KSh85 billion. On housing, Ruto warned that with half the population expected to live in cities by 2050, affordable housing was urgent. “If we don’t act, people will keep living in slums,” Ruto said. Over 170,000 units are under construction, creating jobs for more than 600,000 workers.
The President also announced procurement for the KSh7 billion Nithi Bridge would begin Tuesday. Ruto called it a vital project to save lives on the dangerous stretch. He said the government was in talks with the African Development Bank to secure KSh40 billion for dam construction and had set aside KSh1.4 billion for local water and sanitation projects.
Road funding for Tharaka-Nithi County has also been raised from KSh400 million to KSh1.4 billion. “We are not just talking. We are investing to lift every part of the country,” Ruto said.
Leaders present included Members of Parliament, county assembly members, and other local officials.
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