This follows controversies surrounding SHA with allegations of non-transparency and suspensions of multiple facilities over fraud.
While SHA and the ministry has maintained it is committed to transparency, doubts and distrust continue to cast a shadow over its operations.
Speaking on Sunday during a church service in Siaya, Mbadi said he has heard positive revelations about SHA and how it is benefiting Kenyans.
He called on health CS Aden Duale and Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga to be firm and not to be distracted by critics.
“I’m excited of the revelations that I have heard about SHA. People who don’t have information about what CS Duale and Oluga are doing in that ministry are the ones who are talking out there. After doing an assessment in six out of 47 seven counties, there are revelations that some hospitals in the country have been taking money from Kenyans and yet they are suffering without treatment,” he said.
The CS claimed that some hospitals have been stealing public funds and when they go after the people who are trying to clean up the mess at the health ministry.
“Dr Oluga, solder on and clean up the mess at the ministry of health. Don’t be distracted.”
SHA announced the suspension of several health facilities across various counties in Kenya, temporarily cutting them off from accessing the national social health scheme.
The announcement was made through a gazette notice issued on Tuesday by the SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 48 (6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, the Social Health Authority hereby gives notice to the public of the suspension of the health facilities set out in the Schedule below,” the notice stated.
Mwangangi did not disclose the specific reasons for the suspension.
The affected facilities are spread across multiple counties, with Mandera registering the highest number at ten.
Others include Wajir (two facilities), Kisumu (three), Narok (one), Turkana (one), Garissa (three), Kakamega (two), Homa Bay (six), Bungoma (two), Kisii (seven), Meru (one), Kirinyaga (one), Busia (one), Migori (one), Nandi (one), Kajiado (one), Nairobi (one), and Uasin Gishu (one).
President William Ruto vowed that SHA will succeed, saying the government is determined to eliminate fraud in the health sector.
Ruto said the digitization of SHA is helping to detect fake claims, ghost hospitals, and fraudulent patients who have been exploiting loopholes in the system.
“The theft that collapsed NHIF into Sh30 billion debt will not happen under SHA. The digitization process of SHA is what is making us detect all the fraudulent claims, all the ghost hospitals, and all the fake patients attempting to carry out fraud,” Ruto said.
He revealed that nearly 1,000 health facilities have already been shut down after being flagged for malpractice.
