Nyeri tops SHA registration as Asal counties struggle to enroll
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Garissa County, which has a target population of 905,000, has registered just 2.3 per cent of its population.
The Ministry of Health has given an update on registration numbers for the Social Health Authority (SHA) since its transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) on October 1, 2024.
According to the Ministry's latest data released on Wednesday, Central Kenya counties are leading in SHA registration numbers.
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Nyeri County ranks first, with 155,826 residents registered, accounting for 20.5 per cent of its target population of 759,164.
Kirinyaga County follows closely with 123,600 registered individuals, covering 20.3 per cent of its target population of 610,411.
Kiambu County is in third place, with 470,379 registrations, or 19.5 per cent of its 2,417,735 targeted residents.
Lamu County ranks fourth, achieving an 18.3 per cent registration rate with 26,275 residents out of a targeted population of 143,920.
Embu County is also at 18.3 per cent, with 111,113 individuals registered out of a target of 608,599 people.
In contrast, counties located in arid and semi-arid lands (Asal) are experiencing significantly lower registration rates.
Garissa County, which has a target population of 905,000, has registered just 2.3 per cent of its population, totalling 20,624 people.
Turkana County has reached 3 per cent of its target, with 27,840 out of 926,976 individuals registered.
Mandera County has a 3.4 per cent registration rate, with 29,529 individuals out of 867,457 registered.
Wajir County has registered 32,087 people, equalling 4.1 per cent of its target of 781,263, while West Pokot has reached a 4.3 per cent registration rate, with 26,650 out of a targeted 621,241 people enrolled.
The Ministry of Health acknowledges that regional disparities exist in SHA registration rates and continues to encourage efforts in Asal counties to ensure nationwide healthcare access.
The ministry has urged county governments and community leaders in these regions to enhance public awareness and support registration drives.
SHA now oversees the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), part of a government policy shift aimed at expanding affordable healthcare to all Kenyans, increasing coverage from NHIF's 10 million beneficiaries to over 50 million people across the country.
The transition to SHA is a step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with SHA registration mandatory for all Kenyan citizens and their dependents to access SHIF benefits.
In a drive led by community health promoters at the county and ward levels, the ministry continues to encourage Kenyans to register under SHA.
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