Ruto denies gov't spent Sh104b on SHA system

President William Ruto has refuted claims that his administration has spent Sh104 billion to procure an Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System, vowing not to be distracted by critics to abandon the Social Health Authority (SHA) and go back to the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

This came amid voices of disapproval from a section of mourners who jeered some of the president's allies who had attempted to drum up support for the controversial system.

Speaking on Tuesday at the burial of the late Malava Member of Parliament (MP) Malulu Injendi at Lugusi village in Kakamega County, President Ruto alleged that those sponsoring misinformation and propaganda are fraudsters who stole public money under the defunct NHIF.

"The noise you are hearing and witnessing on social media and other platforms are from the people who used to steal from the public during the NHIF time. These are brokers alleging that there is a problem, and I saw them recently claiming that the government will use Sh104 billion on the system,” said Ruto.

He added, “They think we are fools? There is no government money that will be used to pay for any system because we want to sort out the problem of the fraud of the past. A lot of money that was being collected by NHIF used to be stolen by brokers and crooks who used to pretend they have hospitals through fake claims, fraudulent claims and consumed almost 40 percent of the money that was being raised by NHIF and that shall never happen again when I am still the President.”

Ruto defended SHA, stating that the government had to secure a consortium of technologies to seal any loopholes that made it easier for people to siphon taxpayers' money.

“I have done a big consortium and decided as a government that we are going to have a consortium of technology companies that is going to make sure that there is no fraudulent claims in SHA and that they are going to make sure that, the system will not be paid for by the government of Kenya, it will be a fee for service facility that will make sure we protect citizens contributions,” said Ruto.

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The head of state vowed not to fall into the trap of those he termed as beneficiaries of corruption under NHIF to revert to the old insurance scheme, daring his critics that the use of media will not make him relent in ending corruption in the new medical scheme.

“The people who are complaining are the fellows who have been stealing from us, and they don’t want a technology system that works because they want to continue stealing from the people. I want to tell them that stealing is over, my friends and move on. There is no public money that will be misappropriated on digital even if you fill the newspapers as you want, you will not force us to go back to NHIF to continue with stealing and that will not happen,” he stated.

Ruto said SHA is a corruption free scheme that will send money directly to the health facility to cater for drugs and ensure people money is paid for the person who has been served and that the government will not give free money as it was being done under NHIF to hospitals without accountability and money will we plaid for service rendered.

“No guesswork will be made, and it is when people come up with fake claims. They are the ones doing propaganda in newspapers, but we are firm and focused because we want a country where healthcare is not the preserve of the rich. We want healthcare to be a right as it is in the constitution for every citizen to get good healthcare services,” said Ruto.

The head of state urged Kenyans to continue registering themselves under SHA.

The President's sentiments contradict those of Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, who stated on Monday that the state had used Sh104 billion to procure a system that it does not own or control

Gathungu also listed unbudgeted and non-competitive procurement, undefined scope of works, lack of agreements on payments, and unfavorable contract clauses as some of the shortcomings of SHA.