WATCH: Angry Patients Disrupt CS Deborah Barasa's Presser Over SHA

What was meant to be a normal press briefing by the Ministry of Health officials led by Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa on Wednesday, January 15 turned chaotic after frustrated patients stormed Afya House in Nairobi, disrupting a press briefing to update Kenyans on the Universal Health Coverage uptake in Nairobi.

The disgruntled patients who had been keenly waiting for an opportunity with the health officials disrupted the press briefing demanding answers over uncertainties and bureaucracies they have been subjected to over the use of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

In a video obtained by Viral Tea, the patients, including a new mother and her infant, voiced their anger at the scheme, arguing that its inefficiency has left them stranded. 

They also lamented that efforts to seek answers from the officials at the offices have failed to bear fruit and called on the government to immediately intervene. 

Here is the video:

Patients from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) storm press briefing by Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Deborah Barasa at Afya House, Nairobi over failure of Social Health Authority (SHA)
????️: @Ole_tenges #ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/WI4ybBtchv — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) January 15, 2025

The Patients had travelled from the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and openly protested in the full glare of the cameras to Barasa over the Social Health Authority (SHA) system failure.

In a last-ditch attempt, the patients seized the opportunity to vent their frustrations to the CS, who was left with no choice but to sit patiently and listen to their sentiments.

''We are not the only ones who have come, several others are waiting for us at the gate. We have walked into the offices of NHIF, the ICT department and all other offices on these floors. They are not helping us,'' shouted a visibly angered patient. 

''They have resorted to just making us go in circles knowing very well that if you go to a certain office where they have referred you, then there is no amount of help you would get,'' added another patient, who was holding her baby.

The patients detailed to the CS that at some point, some of the people who had been frustrating them referred them to Principal Secretary of Medical Services Harry Kimtai. Among the patients was a mother of a 3-day-old baby, who had just undergone a caesarian section surgery and could not be processed to leave the hospital.

''We have walked all the way from Kenyatta because of this thing called SHA, can you tell the truth to Kenyans,'' another patient added.

What remains a mystery is how the patients amid their problems learnt of the venue of the press briefing. Also in the meeting was Health Director General Patrick Amoth among other key figures at the Ministry. Viral Tea has learnt that there was a standstill at KNH during the previous day because of the SHA system.

The scheme has continuously received backlash over its ineffectiveness during health emergencies. 

Despite the complaints by Kenyans over its inadequacies, President William Ruto defended the scheme saying it will transform the country’s healthcare sector, acknowledging the challenges and noting that the challenges raised are being managed and will soon fade out.

“I know we have had challenges because we are transitioning from what it was to the new model. In every transition, there will be challenges, which we are managing. Last week we disbursed money for hospitals and dispensaries and next week will do the same until the transition is complete,” Ruto said. 

More than 17.8 million Kenyans have registered with SHA since its launch in October. Of these, 13.2 million are new members, Director General for Health Patrick Amoth on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, revealed that 4.6 million Kenyans switched from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

He added that out of the 17.8 million recipients, SHA has effectively paid for 21,000 oncology cases, 8,300 dialysis sessions, and eight kidney transplants.