'That was not healthcare, it was theft'- Ruto on old health system

President William Ruto criticized the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) system during the opening of the Kenya Health Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on August 18, 2026, calling it a mechanism for theft against sick Kenyans. He highlighted instances of fraudulent claims, including procedures that never occurred, fictitious patients, and inflated bills. Ruto described these practices as “theft” and emphasized that such actions undermined the principle of healthcare as a right rather than a privilege. The summit, titled “Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right,” brought together over 5,000 delegates to review progress under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and outline future goals for the remainder of Ruto’s presidency. According to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, the event aimed to assess the impact of recent reforms and set strategic directions for healthcare delivery across the country. Ruto noted that 32.3 million Kenyans are now registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), which took over from the NHIF in October 2024. Of these, eight million have received treatment, more than 1.2 million mothers have been supported during childbirth, and over 500,000 surgical procedures have been facilitated. He contrasted this with the pre-reform era, when annual out-of-pocket health spending reached Sh150 billion ($1.16 billion). Families often resorted to borrowing money, selling assets, or organizing harambees, traditional fundraising gatherings, to cover medical expenses. Since its launch, SHA has collected more than Sh209 billion ($1.62 billion) and disbursed over Sh178 billion ($1.38 billion) to healthcare facilities nationwide. The success of the new system has been attributed to the deployment of 107,800 Community Health Promoters, who work under a joint funding model involving both national and county governments. These promoters have reached more than nine million households and referred over 750,000 individuals for additional care. Ruto also praised improvements in medical supply chain management, noting that the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has increased its fill rate from approximately 40 percent to 91 percent. This improvement was achieved through a Sh1.5 billion ($11.6 million) recapitalization and a Sh10 billion ($77.4 million) credit facility designed to enhance procurement efficiency. The reforms are grounded in four key legislative acts passed by Ruto on October 19, 2023: the Primary Health Care Act, the Social Health Insurance Act, the Digital Health Act, and the Facilities Improvement Financing Act. These laws aim to modernize healthcare infrastructure, streamline insurance processes, integrate digital tools into service delivery, and ensure sustainable funding for public health institutions. Despite these achievements, Ruto acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in areas such as registration completeness, clarity of benefits, and the effectiveness of claims processing. He stressed that the true test of reform lies in the lived experiences of citizens, emphasizing the need for dependable, affordable, and dignified healthcare services. High-level officials, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, attended the opening session. County governors, principal secretaries, members of parliament, and international development partners were also present, underscoring the collaborative nature of the reform effort. The summit continues through Wednesday, with discussions expected to focus on sustaining momentum, addressing remaining disparities, and ensuring long-term sustainability of the healthcare transformation.