President William Ruto opening the Kenya Health Summit 2026 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi on August 18, 2026/ PCSPresident William Ruto left delegates at the Kenya Health Summit in stitches after taking a light-hearted swipe at critics of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Ruto was responding to criticism that the SHA was not working when he turned to the audience and said those attacking the programme were speaking without understanding how it operates.
“Many of the people who speak about SHA not working in political podiums are people who have never registered for SHA; they have never been to hospital,” Ruto said.
He added that such critics did not know what Community Health Promoters (CHPs), doctors and health facilities were experiencing under the new health system.
Ruto then switched to Kiswahili, telling his audience: “Wale jamaa tutawapasha. Unajua, uwongo na ujinga hubamba mafala.”
The remark immediately drew laughter from the crowd.
Ruto paused for a few seconds, appearing amused by his own line before laughing along with the audience.
“Si ndio ama?” he asked, prompting another response from the crowd.
He then repeated the phrase, saying, “Nimesema uwongo na ujinga hubamba mafala,” again sending delegates into laughter.
The President was speaking at the Kenya Health Summit 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, where he opened discussions on the progress of health reforms and challenges facing the sector.
The summit brought together health sector stakeholders to review the implementation of reforms, including the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHA.
Ruto has consistently defended SHA against criticism over its implementation and access to services.
In remarks shared on his social media platforms after the summit, the President said 32.3 million Kenyans were now registered under SHA, compared with eight million beneficiaries under the defunct NHIF.
He said SHA had received more than KSh209 billion since October 2024 and paid more than KSh178 billion to contracted health facilities across all 47 counties.
According to Ruto, the programme had facilitated treatment for eight million citizens during that period.
He also highlighted the role of Community Health Promoters in delivering healthcare at the grassroots.
Ruto said the government would equip all 107,800 CHPs with new smartphones and modern health kits within the next 90 days, replacing equipment that had been in use for the past three years.
He said the investment would help CHPs continue providing health services and information directly to communities.
The President also said the Primary Health Care Fund had received KSh23.3 billion to support more than 20 million outpatient visits, benefiting over 15 million Kenyans.
A further KSh17 billion, he said, had supported maternal healthcare, including deliveries.
Under SHA, Ruto said more than 500,000 surgeries had been facilitated across the country, while more than 50,000 cancer patients had received treatment, compared with 7,000 under NHIF.
