NAIROBI, Kenya — Activist Hanifa Adan has agreed to explore the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a possible avenue to fund a critical ear surgery after an online debate over her eligibility for government-backed medical cover.
Hanifa said on Tuesday she would try the Social Health Authority (SHA) after Kenyans urged her to test the scheme before dismissing it.
Among those who weighed in was President William Ruto’s aide, Dennis Itumbi, who encouraged her to register and seek coverage.
The activist had disclosed that several private hospitals quoted about Sh1 million for the procedure. However, she said a mission hospital had offered to perform the surgery free of charge if she registered under SHA.
Initially, Hanifa dismissed Itumbi’s advice, questioning how SHA could cover a procedure costing up to Sh500,000 when, in her experience, it had not fully covered surgeries costing far less.
“Surely, in your own words, the hospital recommended you try SHA. Why don’t you try first, then if it fails, you will be vindicated?” one Kenyan posed online.
“I will try, of course. Why would I refuse?” Hanifa responded.
Itumbi urged her to set aside political differences with the government for the sake of her health.
“SHA works. Do not let ‘Must Go’ activism block you from medical coverage. Get the SHA subscription. Use it. Then come back with your testimony,” he stated.
Hanifa revealed that she has been searching for an affordable solution for nearly a year.
She first went public about her condition in August 2025, disclosing that she suffers from chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), a persistent inflammation of the middle ear and mastoid cavity.
CSOM is characterised by recurrent ear discharge and a perforated eardrum. If untreated, it can lead to progressive hearing loss and, in severe cases, permanent deafness.
Treatment may involve antibiotic therapy and specialised ear cleaning, but advanced cases often require surgical intervention.
Doctors may perform a tympanoplasty to repair the eardrum or a mastoidectomy to remove infected mastoid tissue.
The episode has sparked wider debate about the effectiveness of Kenya’s new health financing framework under SHA, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Supporters argue that the scheme expands access to universal health coverage, while critics question its implementation and benefit limits.
For Hanifa, the immediate priority remains safeguarding her hearing.
Whether SHA will cover the procedure may soon provide a test case in the ongoing public conversation about healthcare reform.