President William Ruto has reiterated his commitment to maintaining a corruption-free Social Health Authority (SHA) during his tenure. Speaking at the Kilifi International Investment Conference in Vipingo, Kilifi County, on Thursday, the President assured Kenyans that his administration is dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in healthcare management.
“We are working tirelessly to eliminate corruption in all sectors to ensure Kenyans get value for their money,” President Ruto stated, underscoring the importance of a robust SHA structure designed to avoid the corruption issues that plagued the now-defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). He further declared, “I want to assure the country that the challenges of fraud and corruption that bedevilled the NHIF will never be part of our universal healthcare plan as long as I am in charge.”
Addressing allegations of fraudulent procurement in the National Equipment Service Programme, the President clarified that the procurement process was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and county governments. He emphasized that counties are not obligated to select any supplier. “There is no obligation on any county to get equipment from any supplier. There is also no single supplier; there are seven suppliers,” he explained.
The President also lauded the role of county governments in driving Kenya’s socio-economic transformation through devolution. He highlighted that devolution has unlocked untapped potential and empowered grassroots communities. “Devolution has given us a unique opportunity to empower the grassroots by unlocking untapped socio-economic potential,” Ruto said.
In a bid to foster economic growth, the President announced the construction of flagship Export Processing Zones (EPZs) in Busia, Eldoret, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga. These projects, now more than 50% complete, are expected to create jobs and attract investments. Additionally, the government has licensed 39 Special Economic Zones, including 10 along the Coast, to stimulate local development and investment.
President Ruto also encouraged Kenyans to leverage digital platforms for positive purposes, emphasizing their role in supporting creative industries, youth employment, and expanding e-commerce opportunities. “We can use [the digital space] for positive purposes,” he said, urging citizens to focus on productivity and innovation for national growth.
