President William Ruto put residents of Bonchari Constituency in Kisii County on the spot after asking how many of them understood what a payslip was while defending his administration’s decision to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) with the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking at Kenyoro Junction on Tuesday, November 10, during the commissioning of Nyankororo Primary School, the President questioned how many residents had formal employment and received monthly payslips.
He then asked those who did not have formal employment to raise their hands, using the response to explain why he believed the previous healthcare funding arrangement needed to change.
“Mimi nataka niulize nyinyi, watu wa hapa Bonchari. Wangapi hapa wako na payslip? Nyinyi mnajua hata payslip ni nini?” Ruto posed.
The President went on to explain that a payslip was a document issued to employees after securing formal employment.
He argued that relying on payslips as a basis for healthcare contributions would leave out many Kenyans who earn their living outside formal employment.
“Hawa watu wote hawa. Wote hawana payslip. Sasa mkisema funding model ya mambo ya matibabu itegemee payslip, si hawa watu wote watafungiwa nje?” he asked.
Ruto said this was among the reasons his administration introduced SHA to replace NHIF, arguing that the new arrangement would provide a different approach to financing healthcare.
“Ndio mimi nikasema tubadilishe from NHIF, sasa tuko na mpango wa SHA,” he added.
Under SHA, Kenyans are expected to contribute towards healthcare based on an assessment of their household income, with the government providing support for households unable to afford the contributions.
The transition from NHIF to SHA took effect on October 1, 2024, marking a major change in the country’s healthcare financing system.
However, the new system has faced questions over registration, contribution assessments, access to services and payments to healthcare facilities.
Ruto’s remarks came as he continued his four-day development tour of the Gusii region, where he has been defending his administration’s projects and policies while addressing residents.