SHA staff yet to receive July salaries amid court battles

Health CS Aden Duale before the National Assembly's Health committee to consider Budget Estimates FY 2025/26 at Parliament buildings, Nairobi. May 14th,2025 [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Wrangles over employment and ongoing legal battles have delayed the payment of July salaries to staff at the Social Health Authority (SHA), insiders have revealed.

Employees are yet to receive payslips, and the delay has affected both junior and senior staff. Management has not provided any explanation for the delay.

“We honestly don’t know what’s happening. It’s one frustration after another. People are unsure whether we’ll even be paid. The silence is worrying,” said one employee. 

The delay has left workers demoralised and struggling financially. Some have been unable to negotiate with banks due to a lack of official communication from SHA.

Two weeks ago, the Labour and Employment Court ruled in favour of the employees, ordering full pay without deductions, even for those redeployed to other departments. However, SHA has appealed the ruling, plunging workers into renewed uncertainty.

Despite the salary crisis, SHA recently advertised 64 senior-level positions in departments such as finance, ICT, benefits, and human resources. More vacancies are expected as the authority seeks to fill its structure of 815 positions, far fewer than the 1,732 previously under NHIF.

This has raised fears that many current employees may be left out. Some roles formerly under the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) have not been advertised, and minimum qualifications have been raised to degree level, automatically disqualifying diploma holders.

In addition, SHA’s pay structure is reportedly lower than NHIF’s, prompting concerns that many may opt to leave once paid.

“There’s no exit plan. We just want our money, then we’ll move on,” said a frustrated employee. Attempts to get a response from SHA management and the Health CS have so far been unsuccessful.