Kenya’s Catholic Bishops Call for “health act review” amid National Insurer and Health Facilities Stalemate over Payment

Amid the controversy, over 600 private hospitals in Kenya have reportedly suspended services under the SHA scheme. On its part, Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has claimed that SHA has no legal obligation to settle the NHIF arrears, a situation that has resulted in a financial impasse, Kenyan patients and their respective families bearing the brunt. 

“Families are going through painful experiences, unable to pay using the SHA scheme,” Kenya’s Catholic Bishops have lamented in their collective statement that was read out during the launch of the 2025 Lenten Campaign in the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa on February 28.

“What was the hurry to transition without a good interphase?” KCCB members have queried.

In the seven-page statement that their chairman, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of the country’s Kisumu Archdiocese read out, KCCB members refer to some KES. 2.5 billion (US$19.2 million) that the Catholic health facilities in Kenya are owed over the last five years, saying, “We could have served more patients had we received the dues since 2020.”

“We are still very unhappy that our hospitals, which serve mainly the underprivileged, are grounding because the government is not keeping its promises to remit funds owed to them,” they lament.

KCCB members, who, alongside other faith-based entities, have been vocal in urging the government to settle the arrears refer to their appeal last year, saying, “Despite the promises made in November 2024 after our previous statement, the only payments that came through cover part of the claims in this period only.”  

“Our faith-based Hospitals are still owed not less than 2.5Billion shillings,” they have reiterated, and appealed, “We need commitment from Government on when this amount will be paid and not mere promises.”

KCCB members also lamented that the reorganization of the Levels of Hospitals in the country in what they say they consider unfavorable to the Catholic health facilities. “We think this system will only weaken our hospitals more by reducing the patient numbers while not offering better health care to our people,” they say.

“The haphazardly coordinated Health sector is too dangerous and a threat to a healthy Kenyan population,” KCCB members have said in their statement that was read out during the launch of the 2025 Lenten Campaign at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa Archdiocese.

As a way forward, they have appealed, “We therefore request a review of the Health Act.”

At the launch of the 40-day Lenten period that is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 5 (Ash Wednesday), KCCB members have also weighed in on the challenges that youths face, and underlined the need to have them empowered.

“Brimming with creativity, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to progress, our young people are poised to transform our society,” they have said, and urged Kenya’s political leaders to prioritize policies and initiatives that “empower our youth through quality education, vocational training, and entrepreneurial opportunities.”

According to Kenya’s Catholic Bishops, “We ought to create an environment where fresh ideas and innovative solutions flourish by valuing and providing our young people with the tools they need to succeed.”