Meru politician’s scathing critique of Deputy President’s inner circle follows personal healthcare ordeal
NAIROBI – A bitter fallout over Kenya’s struggling Social Health Authority (SHA) has escalated into a public confrontation between prominent Meru politician Michael Makarina and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s inner circle, with Makarina warning that the DP’s credibility in Mt Kenya is being systematically undermined by his own allies.
The controversy erupted after Makarina, a former staunch supporter of the broad-based government who famously championed the “System iko sawa” slogan, found himself abandoned by the SHA system during a medical emergency on July 15, 2025.
Despite being a platinum subscriber, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) failed to cover his hospital bill at Aga Khan University Hospital, forcing former DCI boss George Kinoti to intervene and clear the entire admission cost.
What began as criticism of the healthcare system has now morphed into a damning indictment of Kindiki’s political operation, with Makarina directly blaming the Deputy President’s associates for poisoning his brand in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
The SHA controversy
Makarina’s ordeal began when he suffered a mild stroke and was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital at midnight.
Despite his premium SHA subscription and regular monthly contributions, the much-touted health insurance system covered what he described as “peanuts” – an amount he claimed was equivalent to the cost of a single phone call.
“I was in pain, overwhelmed and weak. My wife was running up and down, trying to push things through SHA and SHIF. She tried. But nothing was moving,” Makarina recounted in his original Facebook post that sparked the controversy.
The situation was only resolved when Kinoti saw the post and immediately contacted Makarina’s wife, assuring her he would handle the entire hospital bill.
This act of personal intervention highlighted the gap between government promises and ground-level reality.
Mithamo Muchiri factor
The healthcare critique took a political turn when Mithamo Muchiri, described by Makarina as “the self-proclaimed blogger of the Deputy President,” attempted to defend the SHA system, claiming it was working well.
This prompted Makarina’s explosive response, in which he accused Muchiri and others in Kindiki’s circle of undermining the Deputy President’s standing in Mt Kenya.
“You are among the individuals who have made it difficult for Prof. Kithure Kindiki to stamp authority in Mt Kenya. Your arrogance, entitlement, and inflated self-importance have turned many away,” Makarina wrote in his latest Facebook post.
The Meru politician particularly took issue with what he termed Muchiri’s “dismissive attitude toward the suffering wananchi” and his attempts to “sanitize the government’s failures from your keyboard.”
A warning to Kindiki
In an unprecedented public rebuke, Makarina directly addressed Deputy President Kindiki, warning him that his problems are internal and that his associates are building walls between him and the people.
“Your problems are internal. You have allowed these little gods around you to build walls between you and the people. Their disrespect, elitism, and contempt for the common mwananchi is slowly but surely eroding your credibility in Mt Kenya,” Makarina wrote.
The politician specifically warned against what he termed the “Tharaka Nithi elite clique” who believe leadership is their birthright, suggesting that such attitudes are costing the government popular support.
Makarina’s criticism carries significant weight given his previous role as a vocal supporter of government policies.
His transformation from a “System iko sawa” champion to a fierce critic mirrors broader public disillusionment with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s delivery on key promises.
The incident has broader implications for President William Ruto’s administration, particularly in Mt Kenya where maintaining political support remains crucial for the government’s stability. Makarina’s warning that the Deputy President’s credibility is being eroded by his own allies suggests deeper structural problems within the government’s political machinery.
Beyond the political drama, Makarina’s experience has reignited debates about Kenya’s healthcare reforms.
The Social Health Authority and SHIF were introduced as flagship reforms to provide universal healthcare coverage, replacing the previous National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
However, Makarina’s experience suggests significant implementation challenges. “SHA is not working. SHIF is a sweet story in press conferences, but a nightmare at the ground level,” he stated, directly linking healthcare delivery failures to the government’s declining popularity.
The controversy presents a test for both Kindiki and the broader government on how they handle criticism from within their own support base. Makarina’s public stance as someone who continues to support President Ruto while criticizing the Deputy President’s operation suggests fractures within the government’s political coalition.
The politician’s declaration that “we do not beg and we do not bargain for justice” and his commitment to “continue standing with the Kenyan people” indicates he may continue his public criticism campaign, potentially inspiring other government supporters to voice similar concerns.
