The national and county governments have started identifying poor Kenyans who will receive free medical services under the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). The Ministries of Health and Labour, together with county governments, are collaborating on this initiative.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Council of Governors vice chairperson Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) said the two levels of government will jointly pay for the vulnerable. Standardised guidelines for supporting these Kenyans will be published by Monday, helping counties plan for the next financial year.
This effort backs President William Ruto’s pledge that the government would cover health premiums for those unable to pay. The shift to SHIF replaces the old NHIF system, which Ruto said unfairly favoured wealthier Kenyans and left the poor behind. Under SHA, salaried workers now contribute 2.75% of their income, compared to NHIF’s flat-rate contributions.
Currently, around 22 million Kenyans have registered with SHA, but only six million are actively paying, raising concerns about the programme’s financial sustainability. Meanwhile, Duale and the governors also agreed to fast-track the rollout of a new digital health system, allowing Kenyans to access treatment at any facility without carrying physical records.
