Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has attacked Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro over his recent statements on the National Health Insurance Fund and the Social Health Authority.
The Senate Majority Leader questioned Nyoro’s apparent shift in position on the old health scheme.
“Assistant Chief tribalist, Mr Ndindi Nyoro, what did you say again? That NHIF had a higher monthly collection than SHA? Like seriously!” Cheruiyot said in a post on X.
President William Ruto has defended SHA, saying it is performing better than NHIF.
The President said SHA now disburses about Sh12 billion monthly to hospitals, compared to Sh5.6 billion under the old system. He also said SHA has registered 32 million people, up from about eight million under NHIF.
But the exchange is not just about health insurance. Cheruiyot also accused Nyoro of hypocrisy over the Road Maintenance Levy Fund.
“Yet as budget chair you appropriated its proceeds to your constituency in disproportionate scales. Spare the country your hypocrisy,” Cheruiyot said.
Nyoro, who previously chaired the Budget and Appropriations Committee, has recently proposed cutting the road maintenance levy by Sh7 per litre as part of his plan to reduce fuel prices.
He has also criticised the securitisation of the levy, calling it an “illegal loan” that lacks parliamentary approval.
“When greed and marginalisation is normalised, then equity and fair distribution becomes such a bitter pill to swallow,” Cheruiyot added.
The clash comes as both politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election. Nyoro has declared his presidential ambitions, while Cheruiyot remains a close ally of President Ruto.
At the time of going to press, Nyoro had not responded to Cheruiyot’s latest remarks.
