Police Disperse Naivasha Residents After Hospital Siege Over SHA System Failures
Health Updated: 06 April 2026 16:46 EAT
Police in Naivasha were on Monday forced to disperse angry residents who had stormed a sub-county hospital, paralysing operations and exposing deep frustrations over congestion and failures in the government’s digital health system.
The residents reportedly forced their way into the facility, demanding immediate medical attention after hours of waiting. The situation quickly escalated into chaos as crowds overwhelmed the hospital, disrupting services and leaving patients and staff stranded.
Officers were deployed to the scene to restore order, eventually dispersing the crowd and securing the premises. Hospital operations were temporarily halted as authorities worked to contain the situation and ensure the safety of both patients and healthcare workers.
At the centre of the unrest is the troubled Social Health Authority (SHA) system, which has faced mounting criticism over persistent technical failures and delays in processing patient approvals.
Patients seeking treatment have been forced to endure long waiting hours due to system downtimes, with hospitals unable to access or verify coverage in real time. This has led to a backlog of cases, contributing to congestion in already overstretched public facilities.
Healthcare workers at the Naivasha hospital struggled to manage the influx, as more patients continued to arrive despite the system challenges. The strain on resources and staff created a tense environment that ultimately triggered the confrontation.
The SHA system, which replaced the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), was introduced as part of broader reforms aimed at achieving universal health coverage. However, its rollout has been marred by operational glitches and public dissatisfaction.
Across Kenya, several hospitals have reported similar disruptions, with patients unable to access timely treatment due to delays in approvals and verification processes. The recurring issues have raised concerns about the system’s reliability and readiness.
Residents involved in the Naivasha protest accused authorities of failing to address ongoing challenges, arguing that access to healthcare has worsened instead of improving. Some called for urgent intervention, while others demanded accountability from those managing the system.
Security remained heightened around the facility even after calm was restored, as officials monitored the situation to prevent further unrest. Services gradually resumed, though at a slower pace, highlighting the urgent need to stabilize the SHA system and restore public confidence in Kenya’s healthcare services.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD