The Rural and Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA) has warned that over 3,000 private and faith-based hospitals across the country may be forced to shut down by December due to the government's failure to settle the Ksh76 billion debt in the healthcare sector.
Speaking during an interview with NTV on Monday, September 8, 2025, RUPHA chair Brian Lishenga warned that the reluctance of the Ministry of Health to address this debt owed to private hospitals is continuously crippling the ability of the facilities to operate effectively.
According to the association, the government owes Ksh33 billion to private hospitals under the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and an additional Ksh43 billion under the Social Health Authority (SHA), which amounts to Ksh76 billion.
Lishenga further cautioned that private hospitals may also opt to revert to cash payments, a move that could compromise the effectiveness of SHA because many Kenyans would likely stop making their contributions to the authority.
