By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 23 May 2026 - The Government has intensified its defence and promotion of the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a cornerstone of Kenya’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo describing the programme as a transformative step towards shielding ordinary citizens from crippling medical expenses.
Speaking in Nyando during the burial of the mother of area MP Jared Okello, Dr Omollo said the healthcare sector had undergone significant reforms aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The Principal Secretary argued that through SHA, households across the country were increasingly being protected from the burden of out-of-pocket medical costs, which for decades have pushed vulnerable families into financial hardship. He maintained that the new healthcare framework was intended to restore dignity to citizens by guaranteeing access to essential medical services regardless of economic status.
Dr Omollo was flanked by Health Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga and ODM leader Oburu Oginga, alongside a host of ODM Members of Parliament and Members of County Assembly who used the gathering to rally support for the emerging political cooperation between President William Ruto’s administration and Dr Oburu’s political camp.
The leaders praised the ongoing collaboration as a necessary step towards national cohesion and development, saying the country stood to benefit more from unity than from divisive political contests.
They vowed to rally behind Dr Oburu and President Ruto’s government, insisting that political leaders should prioritise service delivery and development-oriented programmes over perpetual political confrontation.
In a strong call for moderation in the country’s political discourse, the leaders urged Kenyans to embrace sober and issue-based politics centred on economic growth, infrastructure expansion and social transformation projects. They argued that sustained political stability would create a more conducive environment for the implementation of key national programmes, including healthcare reforms under SHA.
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Dr Omollo defended the Government’s continued mobilisation efforts around SHA, saying the reforms required collective responsibility and public participation to succeed. He noted that administrators across the country had been tasked with sensitising communities on the importance of registration and participation in the new healthcare system to ensure no Kenyan was left behind.
The Interior PS further dismissed criticism surrounding the rollout of SHA, maintaining that large-scale reforms inevitably encounter operational challenges during transition periods. However, he expressed confidence that the long-term benefits of the programme would outweigh the initial difficulties, particularly in reducing the financial strain associated with medical treatment.
Health PS Dr Ouma Oluga echoed the sentiments, describing SHA as a critical intervention aimed at strengthening healthcare financing while improving efficiency and accountability within the sector. He said the Government remained committed to ensuring that healthcare services became more accessible to ordinary mwananchi.
The Nyando event, though primarily a solemn occasion to honour the late matriarch of MP Jared Okello’s family, also evolved into a platform for political messaging on unity, governance and development. Leaders present repeatedly stressed the need for a less confrontational political environment, arguing that the country’s progress depended on leaders focusing on practical solutions to citizens’ challenges rather than engaging in endless political rivalry.
Their remarks reflected the Government’s broader effort to frame SHA not only as a healthcare reform programme, but also as part of a wider national agenda aimed at economic empowerment, social protection and inclusive development.
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