"We Are on the Brink": Hospitals Decry Delayed NHIF Payments Despite Ruto, Duale Promises

Nearly two months after President William Ruto and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale publicly pledged to resolve outstanding debts, hospitals across Kenya are still waiting for billions of shillings owed by the now-defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Hospital administrators, especially from private and rural facilities, say the delays are crippling operations and putting patient care at risk.

"We are on the brink of collapse. We cannot continue offering services without payments. Salaries are delayed, suppliers are threatening to pull out, and essential medical supplies are running out,"said Dr. Mercy Karani, the administrator of a private hospital in Nyeri County.

In March, President Ruto assured the nation that all NHIF arrears would be cleared as part of transitioning into the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Health CS Aden Duale echoed the same during a press briefing, promising "prompt settlement of all legitimate claims."However, hospital leaders say those promises have not materialized.

*"We have been patient, but we feel abandoned. The government must honor its word. Healthcare delivery in rural areas is now at serious risk,"* said Paul Mwangi, who manages a mission hospital in Kericho.

Sources within the Ministry of Health suggest that internal audits and verification processes are slowing down disbursement of the funds, but stakeholders insist the government must find immediate solutions.

*"It’s not just about money; it's about lives. Every day the government delays, a patient somewhere is denied critical treatment,"* said Dr. Susan Akoth, chairperson of the Rural Health Facilities Association.

As hospitals continue to grapple with the financial strain, many have started limiting services covered under the former NHIF scheme, forcing patients to pay cash or seek alternatives.

The government is yet to issue a fresh statement regarding when the pending billions will be paid, leaving hospitals — and their patients — in deep uncertainty.