"Uongo na Ujinga, Ubamba Mafala" Ruto Defends SHA, Dismisses Critics as Misinformed

Speaking during a political gathering, Ruto said some of the people criticizing SHA had never registered for the programme, visited a hospital under the new system, or interacted with healthcare professionals and facilities implementing it.

“Many of the people who speak about SHA not working in political podiums are people who have never registered for SHA,” Ruto said.

He argued that such critics were therefore not in a position to accurately assess the programme, saying they did not understand the experiences of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), doctors, or healthcare facilities.

According to Ruto, much of the criticism was driven by political motives rather than facts on the ground.

“They are just talking because they are chasing political nonsense,” he said, adding that his administration would continue responding to the criticism.

Ruto insisted that the government would repeatedly explain its position until critics understood that SHA was working.

“We will answer you. And we will answer you many times. And we will tell you until you understand that SHA is working,” he said.

At one point during his remarks, Ruto sought confirmation from the crowd before returning to his criticism of those opposing the healthcare reforms. He concluded with the phrase, “Uongo na Ujinga, Hubamba Mafala,” a Kiswahili expression he used to dismiss what he described as lies and ignorance.

His remarks come amid continued political debate over the implementation and effectiveness of SHA, with the government maintaining that the new health insurance system is improving access to healthcare while critics have raised concerns about its rollout and the experiences of patients and healthcare providers.