The Social Health Authority (SHA) has given hospitals until October 14, 2026 to sign new three-year contracts, extending a deadline that was due to expire at 11:59 p.m. on September 30. Patients can keep using SHA cover at facilities that accept the 14-day extension; facilities that don’t will be cut off from SHA services once it ends, according to a notice signed by SHA CEO Dr Mercy Mwangangi and reported on October 1.
By the 254.ke Newsroom. Updated October 1, 2026.
What did SHA announce on October 1?
The authority said service to SHA beneficiaries “will only continue in facilities that accept the 14-day extension period,” and that at the end of it “the existing contracts will lapse and no further extension will be granted,” People Daily reported. Providers have three days to accept and sign the extension through the SHA e-contracting platform.
SHA also plans HAKIKA contracting clinics in every county from October 5 to help facilities finish the process. By the time of the notice, 10,006 healthcare providers had expressed interest in the new cycle.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Old contract expiry | September 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. |
| Extension | 14 days, to October 14, 2026 (must be accepted within three days) |
| New contract cycle | October 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029 |
| Framework | HAKIKA, covering four funds |
| Providers that have expressed interest | 10,006 (up from 7,244 on September 27) |
| HAKIKA contracting clinics | All counties, from October 5 |
What is HAKIKA and which funds does it cover?
HAKIKA is the new contracting framework introduced by the Ministry of Health for the 2026-2029 cycle. It sits across the four funds SHA runs: the Primary Health Care Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund.
SHA switched on an electronic contracting platform on September 18. Kenyans.co.ke and Pulse Kenya both reported that filing an application or an expression of interest is not the same as holding a contract. Only facilities with an executed agreement remain eligible to serve SHA members.
Why were hospitals slow to sign?
The Standard reported that SHA met four hospital bodies, the Christian Health Association of Kenya, SUPKEM, the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals and the Rural Urban Private Hospitals Association, over the draft terms. The facilities raised about 40 contentious items and the meeting ended without consensus.
Two issues stood out. One was payment terms, with SHA reserving the right to pay “at availability of funds.” The other was claims auditing, where SHA could extrapolate an error rate from a sample of claims and apply deductions to a wider batch. A hospital representative was quoted asking: “Why should we be subjected to availability of funds?” Health CS Aden Duale afterwards directed hospitals to sign, while saying talks could continue.
The wider background is not new. Private facilities have previously suspended or limited SHA services over unpaid claims, which is why payment language in the contract has drawn so much attention.
Will I still be able to use SHA at my hospital?
For now, yes at any facility that accepts the extension. SHA’s earlier warnings said hospitals without an executed contract could not treat SHA beneficiaries and would have their provider portal access disabled, and that they should arrange transfers for patients so care is not interrupted. Patients on ongoing treatment, such as dialysis or regular specialist reviews, are the most exposed if their facility doesn’t sign.
Emergency care is financed through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and the government has said contracted facilities should not deny treatment merely because of system or payment difficulties, according to Education News Kenya.
What should patients do now?
- Ask your hospital’s records or SHA desk whether it has signed the 2026-2029 contract or accepted the extension.
- If you have a scheduled procedure or regular treatment after October 14, ask what the facility’s plan is if it isn’t contracted.
- Check that your own SHA contributions are up to date, and use only SHA’s official channels. Our earlier piece explains how to spot fake SHA registration scams.
- Keep receipts for any payment you are asked to make for services that should be covered.
FAQ
What is the new SHA contract deadline?
October 14, 2026, after SHA extended the original September 30 deadline by 14 days. The authority says no further extension will be granted.
What happens to a hospital that doesn’t sign?
It will lose access to the SHA provider portal and cannot serve SHA beneficiaries, and SHA expects it to arrange transfers to contracted facilities.
How long do the new contracts last?
From October 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029, under the HAKIKA framework.
Do hospitals need anything besides a signature?
Yes. Facilities must also meet Health Management Information System requirements and integrate with the Digital Health Agency, along with licensing, tax compliance and anti-fraud undertakings, as reported by Kenyans.co.ke and Education News Kenya.
Where can I check official SHA information?
On the Social Health Authority website.
Related reading: Mpox in Kenya: cases, deaths and high-risk counties and Kenya’s Ebola preparedness, county by county.
