A few weeks ago, while addressing Kenyans living in Rome, Italy, William Ruto issued a strong warning about the use of social media, cautioning that it has become a space where truth and falsehood are easily mixed. He urged Kenyans in the diaspora not to believe everything they see online without verifying it, adding that misinformation is being deliberately spread for political and personal interests.
In the same address, he defended his administration’s record over the past three years, highlighting key initiatives such as the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Affordable Housing Programme—both of which have faced public criticism.
The President said that more than 30.6 million Kenyans have registered under SHA within 18 months, compared to about eight million who were covered by the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) over six decades. He added that SHA is expected to pay hospitals KSh 13 billion for services offered in March 2026.
However, these claims come amid widespread complaints from many parts of the country that SHA is not working effectively. Patients have reported difficulties accessing treatment, hospitals turning away SHA users, system failures, and confusion over contributions and benefits. In some cases, registered members are still being forced to pay out-of-pocket, raising concerns about the programme’s reliability.
Healthcare providers have also expressed frustration, particularly over delayed reimbursements and unclear operational structures, which have affected their willingness to fully implement the scheme.
Despite these challenges, the government maintains that SHA is still in a transition phase and will improve over time.
In a separate effort to boost support and shape public perception, the President attended the Kalasha Film Awards—becoming the first sitting head of state to do so since the event began 15 years ago. He announced a KSh 40 million film competition aimed at encouraging filmmakers to showcase how SHA and the affordable housing programme have impacted Kenyans’ lives.
Speaking on his behalf, Dennis Itumbi, Head of Special Projects and Creative Economy, said four winners will each receive KSh 10 million—two for productions focused on SHA and two on affordable housing. The Kenya Film Commission is expected to oversee the competition and release guidelines soon.
Meanwhile, questions persist about the broader success of government programmes, with economic data showing that about 728,400 people were employed in the construction sector last year—figures some analysts say do not fully align with official claims about the impact of the affordable housing initiative.
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