From Left front line: County MP Kamene Kasimbi (Machakos), Irene Kasalu (Kitui) and Rose Museo (Makueni). Photo by Virginia Siebela. 
By Virginia Siebela
Woman representatives from Ukambani have strongly criticized the national government over the operations of the Social Health Authority (SHA), accusing it of being riddled with corruption.
Speaking in Machakos during a function where they distributed empowerment items to women, youth, and boda boda operators, the leaders said SHA has failed to serve Kenyans, with reports of patients being turned away from hospitals.
Machakos County Woman Representative Joyce Kamene Kasimbi said she had never witnessed such levels of corruption in Kenya’s leadership.
“I have never seen such high-level corruption under any president in this country like what we are witnessing under President William Ruto,” she said.
Kamene also faulted the demolition of houses in Mavoko last year, saying that property was the only form of wealth for many in the Akamba community.
“That was the only gold owned by our people, and now they have been left with nothing,” she lamented.
Makueni County Woman Representative Rose Museo described the situation as heartbreaking, noting that ordinary Kenyans were being denied medical care.
“It is painful to see the poor turned away because SHA is not functioning, and they cannot afford private hospitals,” she said.
Museo added that SHA has already been exposed as a breeding ground for corruption and accused the government of using it as a tool against its people. She urged the government to heed the cries of citizens and ensure transparency on how SHA funds are being utilized. Kitui Woman Representative Irene Kasalu backed her remarks.
At the same time, Museo dismissed Kenya Kwanza’s program of distributing cheques to groups as a form of economic empowerment, claiming it was a political campaign strategy rather than genuine support for Kenyans.
“That is not empowerment; it is just another way of campaigning,” she insisted.
She also opposed calls to scrap NGAAF and CDF funds in favor of channeling them to counties, saying devolution has not delivered tangible development since its inception.
