'We will corner them slowly', Omtatah warns gov't over SHA and Kenya Pipeline financing

Speaking to the press, he said he would “corner them slowly,” referring to the court petitions that have previously stalled government projects, which he argues do not comply with the law.

“SHA software, they said they bought the software at Ksh.104 billion and then selling Kenya Pipeline at Ksh.106 billion. Somebody is fooling others, so it has to come to an end. But we're going to corner them slowly,” Omtatah said.

His remarks come amid ongoing public debate over the cost and financing model of the Social Health Authority (SHA) system.

President William Ruto previously dismissed claims that the government spent Ksh.104 billion to procure the SHA system, insisting that no public funds were used to purchase the platform. 

He explained that the system is operated by a consortium of technology companies under a fee-for-service arrangement, aimed at curbing fraud that had plagued the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Separately, concerns have also been raised over the proposed financial structuring of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale recently said the company would be capitalised with Ksh.106 billion to anchor the National Infrastructure Fund, a move expected to leverage significantly larger infrastructure financing in the coming years.

Under the proposal, KPC’s historical annual dividends of about Ksh.5 billion to the National Treasury would instead be channelled through the fund to unlock investments for national development projects.

Omtatah’s comments add to growing scrutiny over how major government systems and state assets are being structured and financed, with debate intensifying over transparency, valuation, and long-term fiscal impact.