Let’s not lie – SHA came in like a thunderstorm on a sunny day. One minute we had NHIF (with all its imperfections), and the next, we’re being told we’re now part of SHA – whether we like it or not. While everyone was still trying to figure out how to pronounce it, Safaricom and Apeiro were already smiling to the bank with a Ksh.104 billion tech deal. Eish!
But here’s the kicker: as messy as it is, at least SHA is attempting automation. That’s more than we can say for some NGOs still running operations like Windows 98 is the latest software.
SHA May Be a Hot Mess, But It’s a Digital Hot Mess
Yes, Riggy G is calling the SHA rollout “pure theft” and “rushed,” and honestly, he might have a point. But if we’re being objective, at least SHA has one thing going for it – a move towards automation. Kenyans may be confused, and hospitals are still shouting “hatuna system,” but the government is at least trying to get everyone on one digital health platform.
Imagine a Kenya where you can walk into any clinic, scan your fingerprint, and your health history pops up instantly – no need to carry dusty NHIF cards or explain your condition over and over. That’s the digital dream SHA could reach, if only the politics and lack of transparency didn’t cloud everything.
Meanwhile… NGOs Are Still in the Stone Age
Let’s talk about NGOs. These are the same organizations claiming to “empower communities” and “transform lives,” yet still track attendance using pen and paper. You request a simple report, and someone starts flipping through handwritten forms like they’re doing research for KCSE history. Aki wacha mchezo.
It’s not even funny anymore. You’re managing a health program in 2025 and can’t even generate a dashboard showing impact? You’re still emailing scanned receipts to donors? My friend, even kamagero hawatumii hizo tricks tena.
And just in case you think we’re exaggerating, remember Merlin NGO? Once a highly respected humanitarian health NGO in Kenya, it shut down operations partly because it failed to adopt digital systems and meet modern reporting demands. The programs were solid, the impact real, but without tech to track and show it, the funding disappeared – and so did they.
A Low-Key Blueprint for SHA/SHI Automation (Na NGOs Pia)
Let’s not just criticize – here’s a quiet solution for SHA and NGOs who want to survive:
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Cloud-Based Health Info System
Patient records on the cloud – secure, real-time, accessible across all counties. -
Mobile & USSD Tools for Field Workers
Equip CHVs and NGO field staff with mobile apps or offline tools that sync data when connected. -
Biometric Verification
Eliminate fraud and paperwork with fingerprint or facial ID. -
Open APIs for NGOs
SHA should allow NGOs to plug in and push/pull data in real-time. -
Donor Dashboards
Visual, real-time data dashboards for transparency, not PDF reports from 3 months ago.
Time to Upgrade Ama Mwachwe Na Gari
SHA may be stumbling, but it’s trying. NGOs? Most haven’t even laced their boots. If you’re still stuck on manual registers and calling that “community engagement,” just know the world has moved on.
So, NGOs and public agencies alike: automate, integrate, innovate. Ama SHA itawaacha kwa vumbi.
#SHAChronicles #DigitalNiLazima #NGOTechUpgrade #KuwaSerious
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