President William Ruto has moved to reassure Kenyan workers over concerns surrounding the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA), acknowledging that the health scheme has faced significant operational setbacks during its transition phase.

Addressing thousands of workers during the 2026 Labour Day celebrations held at Friends School Chavakali in Vihiga County on Friday, the Head of State admitted that the rollout of SHA has not been without challenges, particularly for teachers and public servants who had raised alarm over additional charges being demanded at health facilities.

Ruto noted that the concerns raised were not a rejection of the new health system itself, but rather frustrations stemming from difficulties experienced in the early stages of implementation.

“Regarding healthcare, it is equally important to acknowledge that the concerns we have recently seen from teachers and other public servants arise not from the rejection of SHA but from the transitional operational challenges,” the President said.

He explained that some temporary measures introduced to stabilize the fund financially created unintended consequences, which in turn affected service delivery in some hospitals.

According to Ruto, this opened the door for irregular practices, including demands for co-payments and, in some instances, denial of treatment to patients.

“In the early stages, measures introduced to safeguard the financial sustainability of the fund created unintended friction. In some cases, this led to unacceptable practices by a few facilities, including demands for co-payment or even outright denial of service,” he stated.

The President assured workers that the government has already begun addressing the issues by removing restrictive payment structures that had caused concern among beneficiaries.

He added that fresh engagements are ongoing between the government and healthcare providers to establish new service agreements aimed at making access to treatment easier and more efficient.

“The government has already withdrawn the restrictive tariff mechanisms and initiated a structured nationwide engagement with healthcare providers,” Ruto said.

He further expressed confidence that the negotiations will lead to a system where teachers and public officers can access medical services without extra out-of-pocket payments.

The commitment comes after growing pressure from unions representing teachers and civil servants, who had threatened industrial action over the healthcare concerns before reaching a temporary understanding with the government.

Ruto’s remarks now signal a renewed effort by the administration to restore confidence in SHA and ensure that workers receive uninterrupted and affordable healthcare services.