National

Cabinet approves transition from NHIF to Social Health Authority

President William Ruto during a Cabinet meeting which was attended by his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua and cabinet secretaries at State House, Nairobi on June 11, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Tuesday, June 11, 2024

The registration exercises will start on June 21, 2024, across all 47 counties and on all platforms.

The Ministry of Health is set to commence a mass registration exercise as Kenya prepares to officially transit from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The registration exercises will start on June 21, 2024, across all 47 counties and on all platforms. This is after the Cabinet on Tuesday approved the framework for a full transition from NHIF to SHA which effectively begins on July 1, 2024.

Keep reading

"The Cabinet urged all Kenyans to register under the new scheme in our nation's historic endeavour to usher Kenya into the League of Nations with healthcare for all," reads the Cabinet dispatch.

Every Kenyan shall be required to apply to the Social Health Authority for registration as a member ahead of July 1.

"Kenyans can register on the phone, at public hospitals and also at the 100,000 Community Health Promoters across the country," reads the Cabinet dispatch.

This means that Kenyans will start paying 2.75 per cent of their gross salary to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) from July 1, under the new Social Health Authority (SHA). Unemployed Kenyans will only pay a minimum of Sh300.

On November 22, 2023, the Social Health Insurance Act 2023 came into force after being assented to by President William Ruto on October 19, 2023.

The Act led to the establishment of the Social Health Authority which will be a key driver in the country's dream to attain Universal Health Coverage agenda. The authority replaced the repealed National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

In January 2024, Social Health Authority (SHA) Chairperson Timothy Olweny sought to assure Kenyans that there is no cause for alarm regarding the transition that is presently going on in the health insurance sector.

Dr Olweny, who spoke during a past interview on Citizen TV, said the contributions currently being made to the soon-to-be-defunct NHIF will automatically be transferred to SHA once it comes into operation.