In a post on X Muite responded to Ruto's statement that, given two or three more years, he would "straighten out SHA forcefully," declaring that, "Give me two or three years, I will straighten SHA like a bullet!"Muite fired back: "104 billion was paid upfront with taxpayers' money for the SHA software, which remains owned by 'private' individuals. The actual cost was one billion at most. 103 billion 'disappeared'.
"That is what truly became a bullet for the citizens ."The veteran lawyer and reformist highlighted the alleged massive overpayment for the Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS), awarded to a consortium reportedly led by Safaricom. Critics, including activist Okiya Omtatah in ongoing court petitions, argue the procurement was non-competitive, unbudgeted, and single-sourced, violating constitutional principles of transparency and value for money.
Reports from the Auditor General have flagged irregularities, with the system remaining privately owned despite full upfront public funding over a multi-year period.Muite's sarcasm underscores widespread public frustration: while Ruto vows to "bullet-straighten" SHA to eliminate corruption inherited from the old NHIF, Muite suggests the real "bullet" has already struck ordinary Kenyans through this deal.
The software, meant to digitize universal healthcare and curb fraud, has instead fueled accusations of state capture, with billions potentially lost while hospitals face payment delays and service gaps.This exchange captures the deepening divide over SHA's implementation, as the government touts millions of registrations and vulnerable coverage, yet faces persistent questions on accountability, ownership, and true cost-effectiveness.
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