Ruto Dismisses Kalonzo’s Plan to Abolish Social Health Authority at Machakos Rally

President William Ruto publicly criticized Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka during a rally in Machakos on August 22, 2025, over Kalonzo’s proposal to dismantle the Social Health Authority (SHA) if elected president.

Ruto mocked Kalonzo’s recent television interview where the Wiper leader struggled to explain how he would repeal the laws supporting the SHA, a flagship government health programme launched in October 2024 to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Legal and Policy Challenges

During the interview, Kalonzo was unable to articulate a clear legal framework for scrapping the SHA, prompting Ruto to accuse him of lacking credible alternatives for Kenyans.

“He was asked how he intends to repeal the five laws backing SHA but faltered. Even if you’ve been sent or influenced, show some respect and present plausible reasons to appear intelligent,” Ruto told the crowd.

Call for Alternatives

Ruto challenged Kalonzo to propose a viable replacement for the SHA, emphasizing that simply calling for its abolition without an alternative exposes fundamental weaknesses in the opposition’s agenda.

He also referenced another opposition figure who vowed to scrap the government’s housing levy and halt affordable housing projects, questioning the fate of the 1.1 million young people employed in those sectors.

Accusations Against Former President Uhuru Kenyatta

Beyond policy disputes, Ruto alleged that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is sponsoring opposition efforts to undermine key government programmes, driven by envy over progress in universal health coverage, education, and housing.

“Those people are out of their depth,” Ruto said, dismissing opposition criticism as politically motivated and lacking substance.

Kalonzo Musyoka has positioned himself as a leading opposition candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election, focusing on reversing several of Ruto’s economic policies, including the SHA.