Bishops demand government action on CBE, SHA gaps
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops has raised alarm over what it describes as serious gaps in the country’s health and education systems, urging the government to take urgent corrective action.
In a strongly worded statement issued on April 16, 2026 the bishops criticised the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, saying it has been poorly planned and executed.
They warned that the transition from the 8-4-4 system has exposed major weaknesses, with schools struggling due to shortages of teachers, equipment and funding.
“The implementation of CBE is capital-intensive. It requires more teachers, equipment and financial resources than the system can currently provide,” the bishops said.
They cautioned against turning learners into “subjects of constant experimentation,” urging the Ministry of Education to urgently establish a multi-sectoral team to review and streamline the system for effective delivery.
On healthcare, the clerics expressed grave concern over the performance of the Social Health Authority (SHA), citing delays in payments to health facilities and inefficiencies in processing claims.
They noted confusion surrounding rejected claims and questioned the role of the Digital Health Authority in resolving the challenges.
The bishops warned that delays in settling hospital bills—particularly for faith-based institutions—are putting lives at risk and threatening service delivery.
“We believe it is within the power of the government to look into this problem and provide a long-lasting solution, as this situation undermines the protection of human life and dignity,” they said.
They further cautioned that continued inefficiencies in the health system could deny patients timely and affordable care, urging swift reforms to address structural weaknesses.
