President William Ruto has announced that the government will finance the registration of 1.5 million vulnerable Kenyans into the Social Health Authority (SHA) starting next week.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 2, by Dennis Itumbi, the Head of Special Projects and Creative Economy at the Executive Office of the President, the beneficiaries have already been identified.
“We have identified 1.5 million Kenyans who cannot afford the SHA registration fee,” Itumbi confirmed. “The government will cover the cost for all of them, and payment mechanisms will begin next week.”
Although SHA registration itself is free, beneficiaries are required to contribute Ksh300 monthly, or a one-off Ksh3,600 annually, to fully access healthcare services under the programme. The government’s intervention will therefore cushion Kenyans who are unable to meet this cost.
Funding Through Equitable Contribution
The President explained that the initiative was made possible by what he described as an “equitable” collection of the mandatory 2.75 per cent SHA contributions from Kenyans.
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These contributions have allowed the state to pool sufficient resources to extend health coverage to the most disadvantaged.
“The government is committed to ensuring that no Kenyan is left behind in accessing healthcare. By covering the contributions for the vulnerable, we are walking the talk on universal health coverage,” Ruto said.
This announcement comes just days after the head of state pledged to support needy Kenyans by paying their SHA fees, although at the time he had not disclosed a timeline.
Free Healthcare in Level 1–4 Hospitals
The directive also builds on Ruto’s earlier pronouncement that Kenyans registered under SHA are entitled to free services in Level 1 to Level 4 hospitals across the country.
While addressing residents in Embu on June 6, the President revealed that funds had already been disbursed to facilities to cover the costs of treatment for registered citizens.
He warned that no charges should be demanded from patients in these hospitals.
“When you register with the authority, you should go to all hospitals at Levels One to Four, where you should not be charged anything. No one should ask you for money, because the government has already budgeted and disbursed funds,” Ruto said.
He further cautioned hospitals against levying additional fees, noting that some facilities were still charging patients small sums such as Ksh100 or Ksh200.
“There are some hospitals that still ask for money. Before you make these payments, ensure you report to us through the call centre 147. We have already closed some hospitals for overcharging and lying to the government,” he warned.
Boost for Universal Health Coverage
The move is seen as a critical step toward actualizing the government’s universal health coverage agenda. Health experts have praised the decision, noting that cost remains a significant barrier for many Kenyans in accessing quality healthcare.
With the government now set to cater for 1.5 million vulnerable citizens, the programme is expected to ease the burden of medical expenses for thousands of households while strengthening confidence in public healthcare facilities.
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