The Okoa Uchumi Campaign members have criticized the government over the deficiencies in the implementation of the Social Health Insurance (SHI) and Social Health Authority (SHA) initiatives, that has resulted to more borrowing and lack of accountability on public Funds.
Led by the Director of the Institute of Social Accountability (TISA) Diana Gichego, The Okoa Uchumi Campaign body has therefore demanded Transparency and Accountability citing the Parliament, through the Senate and National Assembly, must compel the Executive to provide a comprehensive accounting of public resources allocated to the SHA, NHIF (account for balances brought forward ahead of decision to repay Kshs.10 million and below owed to hospitals), and the Hustler Fund.
“The ownership and cost justification of the SHA technology system must be publicly disclosed. Considering the established precedent set by cancelling the Adani deals due to procurement irregularities, we demand the immediate cessation of all SHA/SHI contracts. Given the risk to lives and confirmed corruption, the President must declare the SHI/SHA a national issue,”Gichego Stated.
This comes amid Findings of the Auditor General’s report, released on March 4, 2025, exposed critical deficiencies in the implementation of the Social Health Insurance (SHI) and Social Health Authority (SHA) initiatives, the Hustler Fund, loss and wastage to among other irregular compensation through court awards.
Addressing the press on Friday,The Okoa Uchumi Campaign demanded Independence of the OAG, OCOB and the Public Debt Management Office:
“Parliament must uphold the independence of the Office of the Auditor General and Office of the Controller of Budget by ensuring timely implementation of audit recommendations, as mandated by the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act. We condemn in the strongest terms the witnessed intimidation and intensified conversation around the Public Audit Amendment Bill 2024, which proposes an audit advisory board to limit the powers and independence of the Auditor General by diluting the operational autonomy of the OAG,”Okoa Uchumi Issued a statement.
The coalition cities Such actions constitute a direct assault on institutional integrity and accountability.
” We recognize this deliberate pattern as an attempt to capture and control these Independent Institutions, similar to what happened to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The Auditor General and Controller of Budget must be afforded the complete protection and resources necessary to execute their mandate without intimidation or prejudice,”The coalition stated.
According to the coalition,The burden of Kenya’s fiscal position falls heavily on the citizens, with the fiscal deficit for FY 2025/26 projected at Ksh.831.0 billion (4.3% of GDP), as per the BPS 2025. However, our computation indicates the deficit could be as high as 5.1%.
The coalition therefore urged for Timely Review and Implementation of Audit Reports.
“The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) must strictly adhere to the March 31st deadline for responding to audit queries. We demand a robust framework for scrutinizing flagged irregularities and ensuring the implementation of recommendations from all relevant parliamentary committees. Furthermore, mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing compliance by state agencies and counties must be established,”Stated in a press statement,”Representative said.
Additionally,”The current budget prioritization needs to address debt vulnerabilities. In FY 2025/26, over 67.5% of the Consolidated Fund Services allocation is concerned with debt servicing instead of development projects. We urge Parliament and the government to develop a strategy for managing and retiring domestic debt to reduce interest payment costs. Additionally, we recommend that the government ease monetary policy by reducing interbank rates to single digits, promoting increased private sector lending,”
Weighed by the impeding burden on the Kenyan people, the Coalition expresses profound concerns over the recent revelations in the Auditor General’s report that point to massive wastage and loss of scarce public resources.
“Four in every ten Kenyans are poor, and many more are at risk of falling into poverty unless urgent and decisive action is taken to allocate public resources wisely and spend prudently. Their dreams of a dignified life are constantly shattered, and essential public services, particularly in agriculture, education, health, and other critical sectors, continue to deteriorate,”the coalition Noted.
The coalition urged the government to ensure in the Resource allocation to prioritize agriculture, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and social welfare to enhance economic resilience and inclusivity.
Additionally,Investing in agriculture improves food security, creates jobs, and promotes rural development. Supporting MSMEs advances innovation and drives economic growth, while social welfare programs elevate living standards, reduce inequality, and strengthen social cohesion through healthcare, education, and safety nets.
“Parliament must scrutinize the discrepancies in the BPS and MTDS and direct the National Treasury to provide accurate and consistent fiscal projections. The National Treasury should be mandated to revise its revenue and expenditure projections to align with realistic economic conditions and avoid excessive borrowing. A forensic public debt audit should be expedited, and its findings made public to enhance accountability in debt management,”Okoa Uchumi representative Said.
The Okoa Uchumi Campaign urged the government to prioritize Kenyans’ interests by taking immediate action to address the concerns raised and ensure that Kenya’s economic future is secured through prudent public finance management. In the meantime, calling on to Kenyans to remain engaged in the budget process and the priorities that parliament will put forward, as well as the revenue-raising measures.
