Government Spokesperson Charles Owino has dismissed calls by opposition leaders to abolish the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying no future administration can simply scrap the health system established under Kenyan law.
Owino said the debate surrounding SHA should be based on facts and the legal framework governing the authority rather than political rhetoric.
Speaking during a State of the Nation press briefing at Harambee Annex in Nairobi on Wednesday, Owino described promises to abolish SHA as unrealistic, arguing that the authority was created through legislation and could not be eliminated through political declarations.
“I want to tell you, whoever becomes the president, even if it is not Ruto, can’t do away with SHA,” Owino said.
YOU ALSO MISSED: https://safinews.co.ke/dcp-leader-gachagua-says-is-the-unifying-factor/
The Government Spokesperson said claims that a change of administration would automatically lead to the scrapping of SHA amounted to what he described as wishful thinking.
His remarks come amid growing political debate over the future of the health financing system, with opposition figures questioning its implementation and calling for changes to the current model.
Owino urged Kenyans to distinguish between political promises and the legal realities governing government institutions, saying any changes to SHA would have to follow the appropriate legal process.
He defended the continued existence of the authority, saying its establishment was anchored in law and therefore could not be treated as an ordinary government programme that could be terminated at the discretion of an incoming administration.
The remarks add to the Government’s increasingly assertive defence of SHA as political parties and leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Owino, who previously served as a National Police Service spokesperson, was appointed Government Spokesperson in July, replacing Isaac Mwaura in the latest changes within the Executive.
The new Government Spokesperson has in recent weeks adopted a more politically engaged communication approach, challenging opposition leaders to present alternative policy programmes rather than concentrating solely on calls for President William Ruto to leave office.
His latest comments are likely to intensify the political debate over SHA, which has become one of the major issues in discussions about healthcare and the 2027 elections.