KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah addressing journalists on 28th February 2025 in Nairobi. Photo/Newsflash
By Daisy Okiring
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) have given the government a two-week ultimatum to overhaul the Social Health Authority (SHA), warning of nationwide protests if their demands are not met.
The unions argue that SHA’s inefficiencies have left millions of Kenyans without critical healthcare services, despite continuous deductions from public servants’ salaries.
On Tuesday, 4th March, 2025, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atela criticized SHA’s leadership, stating, “The current leadership at SHA is weak, and for its success, leadership must be changed.”
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He further lamented that civil servants are paying twice for medical coverage yet are unable to access services, adding, “We cannot sit and watch our members continue fundraising for medical expenses while their contributions are being mismanaged.”
Government’s handling of SHA
UKCS Secretary General Tom Odege also condemned the government’s handling of the scheme, accusing it of promoting a system that benefits only a select few while ordinary Kenyans suffer. The unions are demanding an immediate refund of deductions from public servants, arguing that they have not been receiving the promised healthcare services.
Nyandarua Senator John Methu joined the unions in criticizing the government’s spending priorities. Referring to President William Ruto’s recent Ksh 20 million donation to a church in Roysambu and his pledge of Ksh 100 million more, Methu questioned, “Why is the government giving out millions while critical sectors like healthcare remain underfunded?”
SHA was introduced in October 2023, replacing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) as part of the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan. However, delays in claims processing, poor service delivery, and lack of access to proper treatment have raised concerns about its effectiveness. The unions argue that rather than improving healthcare access, SHA has worsened the crisis, putting over five million Kenyans at risk of missing medical services.
With the ultimatum in place, the government faces growing pressure to address these concerns before the deadline expires. If no action is taken, the unions have vowed to mobilize nationwide protests that could cripple healthcare services across the country.
