Newly-appointed Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has appointed former Chief Administrative Officer (CAS) Dr. Mercy M. Mwangangi as the new Chief Executive Officer of Social Health Authority (SHA).
Mwangangi served under President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government as the CAS in the Health Ministry.Social Health Authority replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024, and has faced alot of backlash from the public on implementation of the new health scheme.Key among concerns Mwangangi will be dealing with include poor service delivery, poor communication, inadequate funding, unclear implementation frameworks, and the strained relationship between citizens and the healthcare system.
Mwangangi is currently the Senior Health Systems Strengthening Director at AMREF Health Africa where she has been spearheading health financing and health security investments across Africa, securing development assistance funding for primary healthcare and universal coverage expansion.
Her appointment follows the conclusion of recruitment process which saw a total of 92 applicants, out of which 12 candidates were shortlisted and interviewed.
SHA covers integrated preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services at Level 4, 5, and 6 health facilities. This includes emergency services, critical care services beyond the benefits in the essential healthcare benefits package, treatment and management of chronic illnesses.
Dr. Mwangangi’s appointment comes when the Social Health Authority is facing worsening teething issues with private hospitals threatening to stop providing services over debt the authority inherited from the defunct NHIF. Patients have also protested the unclear payment frameworks and other complications.