Kericho County has intensified efforts to enrol at least 900,000 residents into the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, marking one of the region’s most ambitious health initiatives in recent years. During the official mass roll-out held in Kericho, Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga commended residents for turning up in large numbers to register, noting that the new health model aims to guarantee affordable, reliable and comprehensive healthcare for all households. She emphasized that SHA will eliminate the financial strain many families face when seeking treatment, ensuring that no Kenyan is pushed into poverty due to medical bills.
The event, which brought together county officials, health workers, local administrators and community groups, served as a major awareness drive on how the new programme will operate. Residents were taken through the transition from the older NHIF structure to the revamped SHA/SHIF framework, with officials highlighting improvements in benefits, access to services and accountability. County leaders noted that Kericho’s rural population—especially farmers, small traders and informal sector workers—stands to benefit significantly from a system that prioritizes preventive and primary healthcare. Public registration desks were set up across Kericho Town and neighbouring centres to accommodate the surge of residents eager to sign up.
The roll-out has already sparked optimism among health stakeholders who believe the programme will address long-standing gaps in service delivery across the county. Community health promoters say the initiative is expected to strengthen local facilities, reduce out-of-pocket spending and improve health outcomes for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities and low-income families. Going forward, county officials plan to expand sensitization forums and deploy more digital registration tools to reach remote villages. As Kericho races toward its 900,000-registration target, leaders are confident the county will become a model for successful implementation of the new national health framework, potentially reshaping Kenya’s journey toward universal healthcare.