GARISSA, Kenya — Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has pushed back against claims of delayed payments to health facilities, saying disbursements under Kenya’s new national health financing framework are subject to continuous clinical review and verification to ensure compliance and value for money.
Speaking in Garissa County on Sunday, Duale said the verification of claims submitted by public, private, and faith-based facilities is an ongoing process designed to safeguard public resources before payments are released.
“I wish to clarify concerns that have been raised regarding payments to public, private, and faith-based health facilities under the national health financing framework,” Duale said.
“Clinical review and verification of submitted claims is an ongoing and rigorous process, undertaken to ensure accuracy, value for money, and full compliance with established guidelines.”
The CS said a total of 10,272 health facilities across the country have so far been contracted and are actively delivering services under the new arrangements.
On funds already released, Duale said the government has disbursed Sh13 billion under the Primary Health Care (PHC) framework to support frontline and preventive services nationwide. An additional Sh75 billion has been paid through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to facilitate access to essential and specialised healthcare services.
He added that Sh3.5 billion has been released under the Public Officers Medical Scheme to ensure continuity of care for eligible beneficiaries, while Sh1 billion has been paid to the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund to support life-saving interventions.
The clarification comes amid growing complaints from health facilities over delayed reimbursements, with several institutions warning of severe operational strain. Some private hospitals have said they may be forced to shut down services or require patients to pay out of pocket due to cash flow constraints.
County governments have also raised concerns. Murang’a County recently reported that it was owed hundreds of millions of shillings by the Social Health Authority (SHA), claims the authority later said it was working to settle. Faith-based facilities have echoed similar concerns, with a Catholic hospital in Kakamega briefly suspending services under SHA before government intervention.
Duale acknowledged that while significant sums have been paid under the new system, substantial arrears remain from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), which was replaced by SHA in October 2024.
He assured stakeholders that outstanding claims would be settled in accordance with the law, while maintaining that transparency and accountability remain central to the process.
“The government will continue to engage openly with stakeholders, issue timely updates, and uphold the highest standards of integrity as clinical reviews progress,” Duale said.
The transition to the new health financing framework has been a key pillar of the government’s healthcare reforms, aimed at closing loopholes associated with the former NHIF system and improving efficiency in the use of public funds.
