Nairobi, Kenya – A media briefing by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa at Afya House on Wednesday took an unexpected turn when patients from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) stormed the event to protest the failures of the Social Health Authority (SHA) system. The briefing was intended to update Kenyans on the progress of Universal Health Coverage in Nairobi.
The group of patients, visibly frustrated and determined, disrupted the proceedings to demand immediate answers regarding the bureaucratic challenges and uncertainties surrounding the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Many claimed they had endured weeks of being redirected between various offices without any resolution to their issues.
“We have visited NHIF, the ICT department, and other offices, but no one is helping us. They send us in circles knowing very well we will not get assistance,” one visibly upset patient shouted.
Patients from KNH storm Health CS Deborah Barasa’s media briefing at Afya House protesting about the failure of SHA system pic.twitter.com/KKZSOo26Xz
— Jʌĸowɩtɩ🇰🇪 (@Jakowiti_Atwech) January 16, 2025
Among the protestors was a mother with a 3-day-old baby who had undergone a caesarian section and could not be discharged due to delays in processing under the SHA system.
“We walked all the way from Kenyatta because of this thing called SHA. Tell Kenyans the truth!” another patient added, addressing the Health CS.
The disruption, which unfolded in full view of the media, compelled CS Barasa and other officials, including Health Director General Patrick Amoth, to listen to the patients’ grievances. The patients alleged that even after escalating their concerns to Principal Secretary of Medical Services Harry Kimtai, they received no assistance.
The SHA system, launched as part of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage program, has faced criticism for inefficiencies and authorization delays, leaving patients unable to access timely medical care. The confusion surrounding treatment approvals and hospital discharge permissions has also been flagged by healthcare workers.
Just a day earlier, the clinical practitioners union, led by Secretary-General George Gibore, threatened industrial action if the system’s issues were not resolved promptly. Meanwhile, KNH issued an apology to affected patients, citing technical glitches in the SHA system as the cause of the disruptions.
Statement on patient care status and system downtime at KNH. #KNHinakujali pic.twitter.com/SFQHFjOSfD
— Kenyatta National Hospital (@KNH_hospital) January 15, 2025
The patients’ bold move to confront health officials at Afya House underscores growing public frustration with the Ministry of Health’s handling of the SHA system. It remains unclear how the group learned the location of the press briefing, but their actions have added pressure on the government to address the system’s failures urgently.
