The shift from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) continues to be a fundamental component of Kenya’s efforts toward universal health coverage.
Recent figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2026 Economic Survey reveal notable variations in registration across different regions.
Despite ongoing national sign-ups, ten countiesmainly located in the Frontier Districts and Coastal areasare experiencing slower adoption rates.
Isiolo shows the minimal participation at only 46,968 enrollments, with Lamu and Tana River following shortly after.
The statistics indicate a pattern where counties that are either geographically large or historically disadvantaged, including Marsabit, Samburu, and Turkana, encounter greater challenges in establishing the updated health system.
Even areas such as Taita Taveta and Tharaka-Nithi have registration figures under 180,000.
These results highlight the immediate requirement for focused awareness campaigns and the distribution of registration facilities to prevent the SHA transition from excluding the nation’s most at-risk communities.