The battle for the future of Kenya’s healthcare has turned personal. In a series of heated exchanges over the weekend of March 29–30, 2026, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua launched a devastating critique of the Social Health Authority (SHA), claiming the system is a “grand scam” designed to siphon billions from taxpayers.Speaking at the ACK Diocese of Kirinyaga in Ndia, Gachagua—now the face of the opposition under his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP)—warned that the entire national health system is set to collapse by September 2026.
1. The “Six-Month” Warning and the Debt CrisisGachagua’s primary argument is that the SHA is financially insolvent. He claimed that the government currently owes faith-based and private hospitals over Ksh 90 billion, a debt so massive it is forcing facilities to turn away patients.”If SHA collapses, all our hospitals will be closed and we will have a big crisis,” Gachagua told congregants. “Our hospitals should demand the Ksh 90 billion owed before rendering any more services.”
2. The Ksh 104 Billion “Software Deal” & Ownership ClaimsAdding fuel to the fire, Gachagua echoed concerns recently raised by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, who termed the SHA’s Ksh 104 billion digital infrastructure deal as “state capture.”The Allegation: Gachagua alleged that high-ranking officials have personal stakes in the firms awarded the contract. Specifically, he pointed to a 17% stake allegedly held by a top official in Convergence Network Limited, a firm linked to the SHA’s IT backend.The “Phantom” System: Critics argue that despite the astronomical price tag, the system remains glitchy and unable to verify basic patient IDs.
3. Duale Fires Back: “Produce the CR12″Health CS Aden Duale was swift and fierce in his Monday morning rebuttal, dismissing Gachagua’s claims as “reckless” and “politically motivated.”The Challenge: Duale challenged Gachagua to produce a CR12 document from the Business Registration Service to prove the ownership allegations. “I have no stake in any firm doing business with the SHA. These are fabrications from a man bitter about losing power,” Duale posted on X.The Performance Data:
Duale insisted the SHA is stable, noting that 30.19 million Kenyans have already registered. He further stated that Ksh 121 billion has been paid out to medical facilities over the last 19 months, contradicting the “collapse” narrative.
4. Audit Fears and the “Missing” 50 BillionThe clash follows a recent Auditor-General’s report that flagged nearly Ksh 50 billion in irregular payments and “unsupported claims” during the transition from the defunct NHIF to the SHA.
While Duale maintains these are “standard accounting estimates” and “transitional transfers,” the opposition is using the figures to paint a picture of systemic looting.
