SHA Responds to Claims of Private Company Controlling Taifa Care Funds

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has dismissed claims that a private company controls hospital payments under Taifa Care, assuring Kenyans that healthcare claims continue to be processed in accordance with the law.

In a press statement dated July 7, the two institutions responded to concerns raised following a Daily Nation article published on July 6 regarding the digital claims system supporting Taifa Care.

“The Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Digital Health Agency (DHA) wish to clarify issues raised in an article published by the Daily Nation newspaper on 6th July 2026 regarding the digital claims system supporting Taifa Care,” read part of the press release.

SHA and DHA said the report created the impression that a private company was receiving or managing billions of shillings meant for hospitals, maintaining that this is not the case.

SHA Assures Kenyans that Hospital Claims and Payments Continue Without Disruption

SHA said it is responsible for receiving, approving, and paying eligible claims, while DHA provides the digital infrastructure for secure electronic claims processing.

“Contrary to the impression created by the headline ‘Private firm pocketing SHA billions,’ no private company receives, controls or pays out funds meant for hospitals on behalf of SHA,” the statement read.

The agencies said the country’s ongoing digital health transformation under Taifa Care is intended to improve efficiency, accountability, secure patient verification, and faster claims processing in support of Universal Health Coverage.

In addition, SHA clarified that the Taifa Care digital system is supported by integrated digital platforms developed under a government contract with the Safaricom Consortium, and that they do not receive, manage, or disburse hospital payments on behalf of the institution.

They noted that the contract allows the consortium to engage specialised subcontractors where necessary in accordance with Kenya’s procurement and contracting laws.

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Calls for Accurate Claims to Reduce Payment Delays

Additionally, the agencies addressed concerns surrounding the 2% fee mentioned in the newspaper article, stating that it is a system service fee established under the Digital Health Act, 2023, and its accompanying regulations.

They explained that the fee supports the digital platform used to process SHA claims electronically, verify patients and healthcare providers, and facilitate the secure sharing of health information across healthcare facilities.

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SHA also stated that the system helps reduce paperwork, manual processing, and delays that would otherwise increase administrative costs, and that it is charged only after a healthcare claim has been approved for payment.

They also highlighted that the fee payment is processed automatically within the digital system.

Meanwhile, SHA and DHA encouraged healthcare providers to submit complete and accurate claims documentation, obtain the necessary pre-authorisations where required, and ensure their facility and banking details are up to date to avoid delays in processing payments.

They also said SHA will continue supporting healthcare providers through training, technical assistance, and ongoing improvements to the claims processing system.

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A photo showing the joint statement between SHA and DHA. Photo/ DHA