President William Ruto speaking during a town hall meeting on the sidelines of the National Health Summit on August 18, 2026 / PCSKaren Hospital has disputed claims that it has not been reimbursed by the Social Health Authority (SHA), after President William Ruto sought clarification on the facility’s payment status.
The issue arose during a discussion on the implementation of SHA during a town hall meeting on the sidelines of the National Health Summit presided over by the President.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris raised concerns she had received over claims that hospitals had not received payments for services already provided.
Ruto challenged the generalisation and asked for specific facilities that had allegedly not been reimbursed.
“Let’s not talk generalities,” the President said, directing his team to establish the experience of a specific hospital.
SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi, who was present at the meeting, provided the latest figures on Karen Hospital’s claims, saying Karen Hospital had submitted claims worth Sh302,593,226 since the beginning of SHA.
Of this amount, SHA had paid Sh201,506,857, representing 66.5 per cent of the hospital’s submitted claims.
She said claims worth Sh9.5 million, representing about three per cent, had been rejected.
Mwangangi further said Sh40,284,778 had been returned to Karen Hospital for action, including the provision of additional documentation.
She said claims worth about Sh51 million remained unreviewed at the time of the discussion.
“I've opened the system, and this is real time as at 21.26 today,” Mwangangi said.
Karen Hospital was subsequently contacted to give its account, with Ruto speaking to the facility’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Juliet Gikonyo, live on the phone.
Speaking to Ruto, Gikonyo said Karen Hospital had been working closely with SHA in providing specialised medical services.
She said the hospital had been able to undertake several cardiac procedures through its catheterisation laboratory, including angiographies and angioplasties.
Gikonyo also said the hospital was conducting electrophysiology studies, a specialised cardiac procedure she said was offered by only a few facilities in the East and Central African region.
She added that Karen Hospital was undertaking open-heart surgeries for both paediatric and adult patients through its partnership with SHA.
Ruto asked Gikonyo to compare the hospital’s experience under SHA with its previous experience under the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Gikonyo said the hospital had experienced improved collaboration with SHA, particularly on operations, claims management and payments.
“Through the office of Dr Mercy, we have had a better partnership,” she said.
Ruto then asked Gikonyo about claims that Karen Hospital had complained about not being paid by SHA.
Gikonyo rejected the claims, saying the hospital had received more than Sh100 million from SHA.
“Your Excellency, that is incorrect. To date, we have received over 100 million shillings from SHA, and we are very appreciative of that,” she said.
Her statement contradicted claims that Karen Hospital had not received any payments from SHA.
The figures presented by Mwangangi showed that SHA had paid more than Sh201 million against the Sh302.6 million in claims submitted by the hospital.
However, the data also showed that some claims remained unresolved, with Sh40.3 million returned to the hospital for further action and about Sh51 million still unreviewed.
Ruto subsequently described the claim that Karen Hospital had not been paid as misinformation.
Gikonyo responded: “Kindly, your excellency, that is fake news.”
Ruto then directed his remarks at Passaris, urging her to verify information before making claims about SHA payments.
“So, Esther, please check your sources before you misinform the public,” he said.
The exchange comes amid continued scrutiny of SHA’s reimbursement of healthcare providers.
