Duale Clarifies Ksh104 Billion SHA Digital System Claim as Government Explains Health Superhighway
Duale said the clarification was provided by the Digital Health Agency (DHA), which explained that the widely mentioned Ksh104 billion figure relates to broader investment requirements for Kenya's digital health infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Duale said DHA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Lenayara explained that Kenya's Digital Health Superhighway is not a single computer system operated by SHA.
Instead, the infrastructure is designed to connect different digital platforms and government health systems so that they can share information and work together more efficiently.
“Lenayara clarified that the Digital Superhighway should not be misconstrued as a single standalone system belonging to the Social Health Authority,” Duale said.
The clarification comes after growing public debate over the reported Ksh104 billion cost, with some reports and political statements appearing to associate the entire amount with the digital system used by SHA.
According to Duale, the DHA CEO rejected that interpretation and explained that the figure represents the estimated investment needed to develop, implement, maintain and support Kenya's wider digital health infrastructure.
“He also dismissed claims that SHA has a Ksh104 billion digital system,” Duale said, adding that the amount should not be presented as the price of an already completed SHA platform.
The Digital Health Superhighway is part of the government's wider plan to modernise the country's healthcare system through technology.
The infrastructure is expected to link various government health platforms and improve the way information moves between different parts of the healthcare system.
The government says greater integration between digital systems could help reduce duplication, improve accountability and make it easier for health providers and government agencies to access relevant information.
The system is also expected to support healthcare services by allowing different platforms to communicate rather than operating as isolated systems.
Duale said the Digital Health Superhighway should therefore be viewed as a broader health-sector infrastructure project rather than a platform designed only to process SHA claims.
“The Digital Superhighway is therefore positioned as a critical enabler of Kenya's broader health-sector reforms, not simply as an SHA claims-processing platform,” the statement said.
The explanation comes as the government's healthcare reforms continue to attract public attention and scrutiny.
SHA replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) as part of the government's plan to introduce a new system of financing healthcare in Kenya. Since its implementation, the authority has faced questions from hospitals, patients, politicians and other stakeholders over claims processing, payments and the operation of its digital systems.
The cost and procurement of digital infrastructure supporting the reforms have also attracted debate, with critics calling for greater transparency over government spending and the companies involved in developing and maintaining the systems.
Duale's latest statement seeks to separate those concerns from the Ksh104 billion figure, which he said should be understood within the wider context of Kenya's digital health transformation.
The clarification also highlights the government's argument that digitalisation is central to improving efficiency within the healthcare sector.
If successfully implemented, the interconnected infrastructure could allow different government health systems to exchange information more effectively and provide authorities with better tools for monitoring services.
However, questions surrounding financing, implementation and accountability are likely to remain part of the public debate as Kenya continues rolling out its healthcare reforms.
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