Senator Okiya Omtatah Critiques Government Financial Priorities, Contrasts SHA System Costs with KPC Sale Value.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has recently challenged the government's financial priorities, specifically comparing the procurement cost of the Social Health Authority (SHA) system with the proposed sale value of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).

His primary concerns include:

• Valuation Imbalance: Omtatah has questioned why the government is procuring the SHA (formerly SHIF) digital system for KSh 104 billion while simultaneously planning to sell a 65% stake in KPC—a profitable "crown jewel" with vast land and assets—at a reported valuation of approximately KSh 106 billion.
• Kenya Pipeline Privatization: Omtatah has moved to court to block the sale of KPC, arguing it is unconstitutional and driven by external pressure from the IMF rather than national interest. He contends that selling a strategic, profit-making monopoly to service debt undermines Kenya's sovereignty.
• SHA System Irregularities: He has filed petitions against the SHA system, alleging that the KSh 104 billion contract with a Safaricom-led consortium was awarded without competitive bidding and that the system remains the property of private vendors rather than the public. He also argues that mandatory SHA contributions violate the right to affordable healthcare.

As of April 2026, Omtatah continues to battle the state in court to shield KPC from privatization and to have the SHA framework declared unconstitutional.