The National Council of Churches of Kenya has demanded urgent payment of more than Sh10 billion owed to faith-based hospitals by the Social Health Authority. NCCK National Chairman Elias Agola stated that delayed reimbursements, costly digital compliance requirements, and stringent regulations have placed mission hospitals under severe financial strain. Faith-based and mission hospitals account for about 40 per cent of healthcare delivery in Kenya.
The delayed payments have left hospitals unable to pay suppliers, buy essential medicine, and pay staff salaries on time. This has forced some facilities to turn away patients or demand out-of-pocket cash payments. Agola urged the government to settle the outstanding bills inherited from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund and delayed SHA reimbursements. He noted that some communities depend almost entirely on mission hospitals.
The church leaders also want the Ministry of Health to extend the deadline for facilities to migrate from the temporary SHA Provider Portal to certified Hospital Management Information Systems. Only 190 of the 518 faith-based facilities, representing 37 per cent, have successfully integrated into the new system. The migration process costs between Sh600,000 and Sh1 million annually, adding pressure on already financially struggling hospitals.
The Ministry has set November 30, 2026, as the final migration deadline, warning that non-compliant facilities risk losing their SHA contracts. Agola questioned the stringent requirements under the 2026-2029 HAKIKA provider contracting cycle, including tax compliance certificates, NSSF documentation, registration with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, and valid professional licences.
Beyond SHA, the church leaders have opposed provisions in the proposed Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025, which introduces fines of up to Sh50 million and imprisonment of up to 10 years for gross negligence and substandard care. Agola said providers are not opposed to regulation but want further consultation before the legislation is enacted.
Agola described the proposed penalties as excessive, urging lawmakers to reconsider them. He emphasized that faith-based hospitals play a critical role in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural areas. The church leaders are seeking a more collaborative approach to healthcare regulation and financing.
The NCCK has called for a level playing field and a listening ear for healthcare providers. Agola stressed that the goal is to ensure better service provision in healthcare, not to evade regulation. The church leaders will continue to engage with the government and other stakeholders to address the challenges facing faith-based hospitals.
Key points
- Faith-based hospitals face financial strain due to delayed SHA payments.
- Church leaders oppose stringent regulations and proposed penalties in the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill.
- NCCK urges government to settle outstanding bills and extend migration deadline for SHA Provider Portal.
