SHA Enrollment Surges as Kenya Moves Towards Universal Health Coverage.
Kenya’s SHA Aims to Provide Comprehensive Health Coverage to Over 50 Million Citizens
SHA Enrollment Surges
The Social Health Authority (SHA) has made significant strides in its mission to provide comprehensive health coverage to Kenyans, with over 19 million citizens officially enrolled in the scheme. This milestone represents a transformative step toward ensuring that millions of Kenyans can access essential medical services, regardless of their employment status.
Dr. Patrick Amoth, the Director General of the Ministry of Health, announced that on average, 75,000 individuals are joining the scheme each week, with an additional 26,000 people registering every weekend. While the number of enrollees has grown rapidly, the government’s target remains to reach more than 50 million Kenyans.
Dr. Amoth expressed concern that 4.3 million individuals who migrated from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) have yet to update their profiles, which impacts their eligibility to access services under the SHA. “We encourage all registered members to complete their profile updates to ensure smooth access to healthcare services,” he said.
The SHA, through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), is expanding its reach to all Kenyans, moving beyond the NHIF’s previous focus on formal workers. This inclusive approach ensures that individuals in informal sectors, including those with low incomes, can access healthcare. The shift is a vital step toward achieving universal health coverage and ensuring that medical services are affordable for everyone.
Contributions to the SHA scheme are means-tested, with fees adjusted according to an individual’s income. The average contribution for enrollees is Sh592, allowing low-income individuals to participate. As of February 2025, 3.1 million enrollees have completed the means-testing process, ensuring their contributions are aligned with their financial capacity.
“The registration is free. We will re-examine the Means Testing Tool for Taifa Care to ensure that all Kenyans, including boda boda riders, are not disadvantaged in monthly contributions,” said Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
The impact of SHA is evident in the claims process, with government-owned health facilities submitting Sh5.8 billion in claims, and private and faith-based healthcare providers submitting a larger sum of Sh12.2 billion. In total, Sh18 billion in claims have been processed, highlighting the immediate need for health services under the new scheme.
However, concerns remain, particularly in rural and remote areas, about whether health facilities will be able to cope with the growing number of patients. As the SHA expands, it will be crucial for the authority to collaborate with both public and private healthcare providers to ensure they are adequately equipped to meet the needs of all insured individuals.
While full participation and operational efficiency are still ongoing goals, the early success of SHA presents a promising outlook. With millions of Kenyans already enrolled, the scheme has the potential to reshape the healthcare landscape, making medical services more accessible and affordable for all citizens. Continued outreach and smooth integration of healthcare providers will be key to the continued success of this program.
