Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka has voiced serious concerns over the handling of public funds under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the education sector, urging the government to embrace transparency and accountability.
Speaking at the WPF party headquarters on Tuesday, Kalonzo decried what he described as “a worrying trend” in the management of taxpayers’ money, warning that public trust in key social services was deteriorating.
“As the WPF, we believe those responsible for any misuse of public funds must be held accountable. As the government-in-waiting, we will prioritise justice and transparency,” Kalonzo said.
His remarks follow disclosures by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Daule, who revealed that the ministry had rejected health claims worth Sh10.6 billion submitted by providers under the SHIF program. Of those, Sh3 billion are under re-evaluation due to missing documentation, while Sh2.1 billion is being investigated further.
Kalonzo questioned the integrity of the claims process and called on the government to provide a full breakdown of the rejected claims, warning that the credibility of the national health insurance program was at stake.
“The SHIF is meant to protect the vulnerable. Any signs of corruption or inefficiency in its implementation must be addressed urgently,” he urged
In addition to concerns over healthcare funding, the WPF leader also took aim at the Ministry of Education over delays in the disbursement of capitation funds to learning institutions. He alleged that students were being turned away from schools due to non-payment, despite reports of funds being released.
“Learners are being sent home for lack of school fees. In the case of universities, students have received SMS messages indicating their accounts were credited, only to be turned away at admission,” Kalonzo said.
His comments come days after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the release of Sh23.16 billion to support 802,159 students in universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
According to the ministry, Sh4.1 billion was allocated for scholarships through the Universities Fund, while the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) disbursed Sh19.06 billion—Sh7.6 billion for tuition and Sh11.46 billion for student upkeep.
Ogamba maintained that the upkeep funds had been directly deposited into students’ bank accounts and urged them to verify the disbursement through the Higher Education Funding portal. He also extended the deadline for first-year funding applications to September 14, 2025.
However, Kalonzo insisted that the official narrative does not match the reality on the ground.
“This is not just about figures on paper. It’s about real students and real lives being affected,” he said, vowing to keep the pressure on the government to fulfill its obligations to the public.
