NAIROBI, Kenya – Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has defended President William Ruto’s administration against scrutiny over its performance, pointing to healthcare reforms, cheaper farm inputs, affordable housing and digital lending as evidence of progress on its 2022 election promises.
Speaking during a Friday interview on Radio Generation, Nyamu argued that the government’s record should be measured against the commitments it made to Kenyans before taking office, citing programmes designed to expand access to public services and create economic opportunities.
Her defence comes as the administration faces questions over whether its flagship initiatives are translating into affordable healthcare, lower production costs and sustainable improvements in household incomes.
Nyamu cites 33 million SHA registrations
Nyamu pointed to the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) as one of the government’s major achievements, saying registrations had increased significantly under the new system.
“We have SHA. Previously, we had NHIF that covered almost 10 million people, nine point something million. Right now we’ve hit the 33 million mark,” she said.
Ministry of Health figures published in June 2026 put SHA registration at 31.39 million, alongside Sh147.37 billion paid in claims and 11,034 contracted health facilities. A later ministry update reported that registrations had exceeded 32.3 million.
The figures indicate an expansion in enrolment, although registration numbers alone do not establish whether members can consistently obtain treatment, medicines and specialist services when needed.
The transition from NHIF to SHA has been a central part of Ruto’s healthcare financing agenda, with the government presenting the new system as a route towards universal health coverage.
Fertiliser prices feature in agricultural defence
The senator also cited subsidised fertiliser as evidence that the government had reduced the cost of agricultural production.
“Fertilizer was 7,000 shillings. Now we have it at 2,500 shillings,” Nyamu said.
The government subsequently lowered the subsidised price of a 50-kilogramme bag to Sh2,000 in August 2026 and announced additional support for certified maize seed.
In October, the government said more than 34 million bags of subsidised fertiliser had been distributed and estimated that the programme had saved farmers Sh100 billion in production costs.
The subsidy is intended to reduce farmers’ input expenses and support food production. Its broader impact, however, also depends on timely distribution, access to seed, weather conditions, farm-gate prices and the cost of transporting produce to markets.
Hustler Fund claims put credit access in focus
Nyamu defended the Hustler Fund, saying it had extended credit to millions of Kenyans who might struggle to qualify for conventional bank loans.
“Today we have 16 million Kenyans who have borrowed a total of 82 billion Kenya shillings,” she said.
The programme offers digital loans and is intended to expand financial inclusion among individuals and small businesses that have limited access to formal credit.
More recent published figures put the fund’s reach at more than 28 million customers, with cumulative disbursements exceeding Sh90 billion, according to reporting in August 2026. The figures differ from Nyamu’s account and may reflect different reporting dates or categories of borrowers and loans.
The fund’s reach measures how widely credit has been distributed, but the programme’s economic impact also depends on repayment, repeat borrowing, borrowing costs and whether the money helps beneficiaries build sustainable businesses.
President Ruto announced during the October 20 Mashujaa Day celebrations that the government planned to inject another Sh5 billion into the fund by the end of 2026.
Housing and youth enterprise programmes
On affordable housing, Nyamu argued that the programme should be assessed over time, saying legal challenges to the original housing levy framework had affected implementation.
The Affordable Housing Act, 2024, provides the statutory framework for the programme and its housing levy. Under the levy structure, employees contribute 1.5 per cent of gross monthly salary, matched by a 1.5 per cent employer contribution.
The senator also cited the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, which combines enterprise support with training, mentorship and assistance in accessing markets.
Her argument was that youth empowerment should not be judged by start-up capital alone, but also by the support beneficiaries receive to develop viable businesses.
Coffee and sugar reforms
Nyamu further pointed to changes in the coffee and sugar sectors, arguing that government interventions had helped improve farmers’ earnings and address longstanding debts.
In coffee, the government has announced plans to clear Sh6.8 billion in verified cooperative debts, with claims subject to auditing. The measure is intended to address liabilities affecting cooperatives and farmers, although the ultimate benefit depends on the verification and payment process.
In the sugar industry, the President’s office reported in January 2025 that Sh117 billion in sector debts had been written off and Sh1.7 billion in farmers’ arrears paid.
The interventions form part of the government’s broader argument that reducing legacy debts and supporting agricultural value chains can improve payments to producers and strengthen rural livelihoods.
Nyamu also highlighted investment in fisheries infrastructure, including landing sites, modern markets and cold-storage facilities, saying such projects could help fishing communities preserve their catch, reduce post-harvest losses and improve earnings.
Delivery remains the central test
Nyamu’s defence rests on the scale of government programmes, the number of people enrolled or reached, and the financial support directed towards different sectors.
Nyamu maintained that the government was making progress towards its 2022 manifesto commitments, arguing that its initiatives should be assessed by their implementation and the benefits they ultimately deliver to Kenyans.
