"People Are Mad”: Ruto Responds to Claims of Ksh 50 Billion Loss at SHA

President William Ruto has responded to reports that the Social Health Authority (SHA) lost KSh 50 billion, as published in the Daily Nation.

While addressing a parliamentary group meeting between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) at KICC on Tuesday, March 10, the Head of State dismissed the story as propaganda.

“Forget about the propaganda in the headline of the news that some Ksh 50 billion can be lost. People are mad. If we lose Ksh 50 billion, there will be nothing to pay hospitals,” said the Head of State.

President Ruto Responds to Claims of Ksh 50 Billion Loss at SHA

President Ruto added that this week alone, his government will pay KSh 16.2 billion for the Primary Health Care (PHC) program and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

“We are paying the amounts of money to any hospital that has ever been paid under any other administration or under any other program. That is the reality. That is a fact,” President Ruto stated.

Also Read: Ruto Breaks Silence on Alleged Fallout With IMFvc

At the same time, the Head of State dismissed reports that his administration has fallen out with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“I see some people saying there is a disagreement between Kenya and the IMF. There is no disagreement; we have simply agreed on what to do. We have agreed that if we need your money, we will come for it. If we don’t need it, we will use the resources we have. How does that amount to a disagreement?” said the Head of State.

Pledges by the Head of State

Besides dismissing certain issues, President Ruto made several key pledges. He stated that in the next budget, county assemblies will have their own independent budgets and will no longer need to rely on county governments or governors to access resources.

Also Read: Ruto Issues Traffic Directive Following Webuye Accident

He also urged that governors and MCAs be included in pension schemes, saying it is only fair for elected county leaders to enjoy the same benefits as their national counterparts.

“On devolution again, we realized that just as we have the national administration, members of county assemblies have no pension. We all agree here in this assembly that it is only fair that governors and MCAs, as elected leaders, should have pensions,” Ruto said.

“We all agree on a system of contribution. Just as we contribute, I don’t think they will have any issues with contributing.”

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