The state of Kenya’s healthcare system is a tragedy that has been emerging for years, and it is no accident. Behind the scenes, powerful individuals have turned what should be a public service into a money-making scheme, leaving millions of Kenyans to suffer.
At the centre of this crisis is Jayesh Saini, a man whose influence over the health sector has allowed him to profit immensely while hospitals struggle to stay open and patients are denied the care they desperately need.
His control over Medical Administrator Kenya Limited (MAKL) is a prime example of how deeply entrenched his power is, enabling him to manipulate the system for his own benefit while the public pays the price.
Nelson Amenya, a vocal advocate for accountability, has taken to X to express his concerns about the deteriorating state of Kenya’s healthcare system. He has pointed out how the system’s collapse is not just a result of poor management but a deliberate effort by those in power to exploit public resources for personal gain.
Amenya’s voice adds to the growing chorus of frustration from healthcare providers and citizens who are tired of seeing their health sector crumble under the weight of corruption and greed.
His call for action is a reminder that this crisis cannot be ignored any longer.
MAKL was originally created to provide healthcare services to teachers and police officers, but under Saini’s leadership, it has become a tool for siphoning money from the government.
Hospitals that have treated patients under the MAKL scheme have gone unpaid for nearly a year, while Saini’s network of clinics and facilities continues to thrive.
This is not just a case of mismanagement, it is a deliberate strategy to weaken public and private hospitals, forcing them to shut down while Saini’s businesses flourish.
The impact of this exploitation is felt by ordinary Kenyans who cannot access the care they need, healthcare workers who are losing their jobs, and hospitals that are drowning in debt.
The Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has announced that it will no longer provide services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) due to Kshs 30 billion in unpaid arrears and an unrealistic reimbursement model. Hospitals are being asked to operate on less than Kshs 75 per patient per month, a figure that is impossible to sustain.
This reimbursement model is essentially a death sentence for healthcare facilities, pushing them to the brink of collapse while MAKL continues to collect government funds without accountability.
The result is a healthcare system that is failing at every level, leaving Kenyans to bear the consequences.
The evidence of this collapse is everywhere. Hospitals are defaulting on loans, pharmaceutical suppliers are refusing to deliver medicines due to unpaid bills, and thousands of healthcare workers have lost their jobs. To make matters worse, hospitals are being forced to declare NHIF claims as income for tax purposes, even when those claims remain unpaid. This has created an unnecessary financial burden, pushing hospitals closer to closure. Meanwhile, Jayesh Saini and his associates continue to profit from the suffering of Kenyans, exploiting a system that was meant to protect and serve the public.
The SHA has proven to be a complete failure. Reports indicate that 89% of hospitals cannot access the SHA claims portal, making reimbursements impossible. Since December 2024, 54% of hospitals have not received any payments, and those that have report a lack of transparency regarding what the payments were for. Additionally, 83% of hospitals face serious difficulties in verifying patient eligibility due to system glitches, leaving patients in urgent need of care stranded. With 74% of hospitals unable to reach SHA for claim-related queries, it is clear that this is not just incompetence but a deliberate effort to keep public hospitals underfunded while private entities like MAKL continue to profit.
Jayesh Saini has been at the center of every major health scandal in Kenya for years. His influence spans insurance schemes, hospital networks, and medical tenders, allowing him to manipulate policies in his favor.
His involvement in MAKL is a clear indication that he is not just benefiting from the healthcare crisis, he is actively creating it.
His business empire thrives on the suffering of patients who cannot afford treatment, hospitals that cannot pay their staff, and a government that refuses to hold him accountable.
The Kshs 30 billion NHIF arrears must be paid, the SHA reimbursement model must be revised to reflect actual costs, and MAKL must be held accountable for the billions it has collected without paying hospitals.
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