Nearly 29 million Kenyans have enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA), representing a substantial expansion of the nation’s newly implemented national health insurance program.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni stated that this achievement demonstrates an intensive national registration campaign and increasing public acceptance of the government’s household enrollment initiative aimed at shielding families from exorbitant medical expenses.
“We have reached approximately 29 million registered citizens nationwide, and we are urging families to register collectively rather than as individual members,” she explained.
“Our focus is on safeguarding entire households against financial hardship when health emergencies arise, preventing families from being plunged into poverty,” she emphasized.
The Principal Secretary indicated that this expansion has been propelled by a collaborative strategy encompassing national and county administrations, traditional leaders at chief and assistant chief levels, community health advocates, and facility-based healthcare personnel.
Addressing attendees at Angola Health Centre in Kisumu East Sub-County during the unveiling of the Kenya Quality Model for Health Plus (KQMH+) initiative, she disclosed that teams have been engaging in household visits, registration campaigns, and community gatherings to educate citizens about SHA operations and the importance of participation.
To further boost enrollment figures, the Principal Secretary highlighted that special provisions have been implemented to guarantee that vulnerable populations are not excluded from the program.
“We are supporting young mothers, workers in the informal economy, and individuals without national identification through expedited documentation processes and specialized community registration drives to ensure their access to healthcare when required,” she stated.
The growth of SHA registration, she noted, constitutes a fundamental component of wider healthcare financing transformations aimed at reducing Kenya’s dependence on direct out-of-pocket medical expenditures.
“Direct payment methods have long been criticized for compelling families to postpone medical care, liquidate assets, or incur debt when confronting serious health conditions,” she explained.
Under this new approach, she elaborated, contributions are consolidated to enable members to receive a predetermined set of services, with particular emphasis on primary healthcare. This encompasses preventive, health promotion, and essential treatment services provided at community locations, dispensaries, and health centers, with appropriate referrals to specialized facilities when required.
Muthoni characterized SHA as the financial foundation of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) strategy, operating in conjunction with other initiatives including the enhancement of primary healthcare networks, digitalization of medical documentation, and new legislation designed to secure healthcare funding.
She further mentioned that recent legal developments have established a more organized framework for healthcare financing, guaranteeing that funding follows patients and that healthcare providers receive compensation for rendered services.
These changes, she stated, are anticipated to increase the accessibility of vital medications, medical supplies, and healthcare personnel at the primary care level.
“Healthcare should not be considered a luxury,” she asserted. “We maintain that every Kenyan, regardless of their location in rural or urban settings, should have the ability to access healthcare services without immediate concern for payment arrangements.”
The Principal Secretary also connected SHA enrollment to quality of care reforms, emphasizing that higher participation rates must be accompanied by enhancements in service quality and standards.
She indicated that the government was implementing initiatives to bolster infection control measures, maternal and pediatric healthcare services, referral mechanisms, and data utilization for monitoring performance across healthcare facilities.
“Digital platforms are being extended to facilitate member registration, claim processing, and service oversight, an initiative that will improve transparency and accountability in the management of healthcare resources,” she explained.
With increasing enrollment, focus is shifting toward system preparedness and capacity.
The Principal Secretary confirmed that the government is progressing with concurrent investments through the recruitment of more healthcare professionals, infrastructure improvements, equipment upgrades, and supply chain enhancements to ensure healthcare facilities can accommodate the growing demand.
“When you visit our tier three and four healthcare facilities, you will observe that the government, in partnership with county administrations, is installing modern equipment to replace outdated and deteriorating machinery,” she stated.