Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale has refuted assertions that the Social Health Authority (SHA) is inactive in Garissa County, confirming the government has allocated over KSh 1.6 billion to support healthcare initiatives under the program.
In an official statement released on June 6, 2026, the Ministry of Health addressed comments from a viral video featuring Garissa Governor Nathif Jama. The footage showed the governor suggesting SHA services were unavailable locally, triggering public discussion about the effectiveness of the government’s health insurance reforms.
Duale characterized these statements as misleading and reinforced that SHA remains a fundamental component of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage strategy. He highlighted that the authority continues to enable healthcare access for millions of Kenyans nationwide.
According to official statistics, Garissa County has received a total of KSh 1.65 billion through various SHA funding channels.
The major portion, totaling KSh 1.26 billion, was distributed via the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). A further KSh 220.8 million was allocated under the Primary Healthcare Operations Support Fund (POMSF), while KSh 155.9 million was provided through Primary Healthcare Care (PHC) funding. The county additionally received KSh 10.1 million from the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF).
The Ministry stated these funds were designed to enhance healthcare infrastructure and improve access to quality medical services for Garissa residents.
Duale further reassured Kenyans that SHA remains fully functional and dedicated to delivering affordable and accessible healthcare services.
He stressed that all individuals requiring medical attention deserve care characterized by dignity, compassion, and respect irrespective of their social or economic standing.
The Health CS also urged for responsible leadership and accurate information sharing, arguing that public trust in healthcare reforms can only be reinforced through factual reporting, empathy, and accountability.
In the brief social media clip that gained widespread attention, Nathif Jama is seen conversing with a local woman seeking assistance. The governor then casually mentions “hapa hakuna SHA” to indicate “there is no SHA here”. The governor has yet to provide a response regarding the matter.