SHA dismisses circulating list on County Operations Managers recruitment

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has dismissed a list circulating online that purports to name the 47 County Operations Managers recently recruited by the Authority.

SHA said the document is misleading, incomplete and not an official record of the recruitment outcome.

In a statement, SHA clarified that the list lacks critical context and fails to reflect the ongoing nature of the recruitment process, as well as the diversity of candidates who have already been appointed and those still undergoing evaluation.

The Authority warned that the circulation of partial information risks fuelling misleading narratives and unnecessary public anxiety.

“We urge the public to disregard incomplete information that may be circulated to fuel misleading narratives. The Authority remains committed to transparency and will continue publishing all shortlists and appointments through official channels,” SHA said.

The clarification follows heightened public debate after reports emerged suggesting that nearly half of the 47 County Operations Manager positions had been filled by individuals from just two communities.

A physical count of the officials deployed to counties shows that 22 are drawn from two communities, with the remaining positions shared among candidates from other groups, a statistic that has intensified scrutiny of the recruitment exercise.

SHA, however, insisted that the focus on the 47 managers ignores the broader scope of its ongoing staffing programme.

The Authority said it is currently implementing a comprehensive recruitment drive aimed at hiring 815 officers across various cadres deemed critical to the full operationalisation of the new social health insurance model.

To date, 144 officers have been successfully recruited, representing approximately 17 per cent of the total workforce required.

According to SHA, the recruitment is being conducted in phases to ensure efficiency and alignment with national health priorities.

“This process is ongoing, with additional phases scheduled in the coming weeks to ensure timely and efficient staffing aligned with national health priorities,” the Authority said.

SHA further noted that the staff recruited so far hail from 24 distinct ethnic communities across the country, a diversity it says reflects deliberate efforts to foster national representation and social cohesion within the institution.

“This approach ensures that we are building an institution that truly represents the face of Kenya, strengthening social cohesion and ensuring healthcare services are delivered with cultural competence,” the Authority said.

The Authority also highlighted its progress on inclusivity, noting that it has met and surpassed the national requirement of employing at least five per cent of persons with disabilities. SHA said qualified individuals with disabilities have been integrated into varied roles across its structure, reinforcing inclusivity as a core institutional value.

In line with the transitional clause of the Social Health Insurance Act No. 16 of 2023, and in compliance with court and government directives, SHA said it has accorded priority consideration to former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) employees whose skills are relevant to its mandate.

“This strategic approach ensures continuity of institutional knowledge and preserves technical expertise. However, these appointments are not automatic; professionals undergo rigorous assessment to ensure they meet SHA’s competency and integrity standards, ensuring that prioritization does not compromise merit,” the Authority said.

Speaking on Saturday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale defended the recruitment process, insisting that appointments at SHA were conducted strictly on merit and without political interference.

Addressing a gathering at Garissa High School during a function to hand over a new school bus, Duale distanced himself from the process.

“I want to make it very clear that as the Health Cabinet Secretary, I don’t interfere with how SHA recruits or how Kenyatta National Hospital recruits. They have boards and management that handle these processes,” said Duale.

While acknowledging public concerns, the CS argued that the country must also confront historical injustices in public service recruitment, noting that reforms in the health sector must balance merit, inclusivity and equity as Kenya transitions to the new social health insurance framework.