KENYA: Faith-Based Health Providers in Kenya Issue 14-Day Ultimatum Over Unpaid Bills, Threaten Service Suspension
Representative of Faith-based Health Providers
Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
The Kenya Faith-Based Health Services Consortium, comprising the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), and the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS), has issued a 14-day ultimatum demanding immediate payments or they will be forced to suspend services to beneficiaries of these schemes.
“The faith-based health facilities are currently experiencing serious financial distress even as they struggle to continue offering healthcare services due to huge outstanding debts owed to them by the defunct NHIF and the current SHA and MAKL,” read the statement issued at Ufungamano Christian Students Centre in Nairobi- Kenya.
The statement outlines various financial burdens including; NHIF claims of up to 8 billion Kenya shillings unpaid, SHA claims 15 billion, with some exceeding the 90-day limit stipulated under the social Health Insurance Act 2023, MAKL claims for teachers, police, and prisoners have gone unpaid from July 2024, despite the government funding these schemes with approximately 20 billion Kenya shillings annually.
To address the ongoing crisis, the Kenya Faith-Based Health Services Consortium demanded full payment of all NHIF claims by 21st March 2025, and immediate settlement of SHA claims within the stipulated 90-days.
They also asked for reduction of SHA claims approval and urged the government to empower SHA at regional offices to manage the SHA claims without depending on the external developers.
They recommended the creation of a transparent SHA reconciliation portal to track invoice payments, adequate budgetary allocation primary healthcare to ensure timely capitation payments and the integration of MAKL.
They continued, “The situation is very dire because we are unable to pay staff salaries, suppliers, and cater for other operational expenses necessary for providing healthcare services to deserving communities,”.
“The faith-based leaders have reached a painful decision, since we cannot afford to take in more debt after numerous engagements with the Ministry of Health, SHA, and all necessary government leaders,” The statement adds.
