Speaking during a working tour in Nakuru on October 29, the president urged the public to call the police if any hospital demands payment.
He accused some facilities of attempting to bill both patients and the government, calling on Kenyans to report such institutions for action.
However, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has strongly criticised the directive, arguing that the government is failing to protect citizens seeking medical services.
Addressing the Senate on Tuesday, November 18, Sifuna questioned the effectiveness of SHA, noting rising cases of unpaid medical bills and reports of mothers detained with newborns.
He said such incidents prove the scheme is not functioning as promised.
Sifuna dismissed Ruto’s call for police intervention, instead urging Kenyans to hold the president directly accountable for failures in the health system.
“If SHA is working, why are we discussing unpaid bills? The president should stop telling Kenyans to call the police. Let them call him instead,” Sifuna said.
The senator recalled the 2024 Gen Z protests, saying citizens widely circulated MPs’ contacts.
He claimed he would not hesitate to share the president’s number if Kenyans continue suffering in hospitals.
Sifuna also questioned a Nairobi County directive requiring health centres to shift their accounts from tier-one banks to Sidian Bank. He argued that the bank’s financial capacity is too small to handle county funds.
He said he expects Governor Johnson Sakaja to appear before the Senate to explain the decision, insisting the move “makes no sense” and puts public money at risk.
