Government Implements New Health Financing Strategy

In a bold move to reform healthcare funding and accelerate Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Kenya’s Ministry of Health is rolling out a new financing strategy under its Taifa Care program. According to Health CS Deborah Barasa, the system will shift payments to health facilities based on actual services rendered, rather than merely on who is insured — a departure from the old NHIF model.
Central to this reform is the Social Health Authority (SHA), which will manage three distinct funds: the Primary Healthcare Fund, a Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Chronic & Critical Illness Fund. By pooling money into these dedicated funds, the government aims to ensure more equitable and efficient use of health financing.
To boost transparency, SHA will now make health facility payments publicly available on its website. The Ministry has also created a Claims Tracking Dashboard that facilities can use to submit and monitor reimbursements more quickly.Meanwhile, a Means Testing Model (MTM) is being finalized to help identify low-income Kenyans who need financial support in contributing to SHIF.
To ensure sustainability, SHA’s financing model is expected to generate about KSh 90 billion annually, largely through contributions. The strategy signals a shift toward self-reliance in health financing, reducing dependence on external funding while expanding access and protection under UHC.