Turkana Central residents must enrol with SHA to receive relief food, says state official
In a video seen by The Eastleigh Voice, Siele revealed that 600 bags of relief food had been delivered to the area chiefs for distribution, but only those enrolled with SHA would be eligible to receive it.
Residents of Turkana Central will not receive relief food unless they register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Thomas Siele has said.
In a video seen by The Eastleigh Voice, Siele revealed that 600 bags of relief food had been delivered to the area chiefs for distribution, but only those enrolled with SHA would be eligible to receive it.
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“The other day, I received around 600 bags of relief food. Right before anyone receives the relief food from the chief from tomorrow when we begin (the distribution), the first, second, and third condition is SHA; you must register so that you receive the food,” he stated.
While acknowledging that SHA registration is voluntary, Siele stressed the importance of signing up, saying it would help residents access healthcare when needed.
“We don’t want to feed people who then moments later, we hear they fell ill but could not cater for their treatment and then they result to going to the deputy governor to seek funds to receive healthcare in the hospital,” he said.
The DCC reiterated that SHA registration is free and urged residents to enrol, highlighting the long-term benefits of having access to healthcare.
He also emphasised the need for community sensitisation to boost registration numbers.
As of December 2024, about 31,000 residents in Turkana County had registered for SHA, accounting for less than 5 percent of the county’s target population of 926,000.
Authorities continue to push for more enrolments through community outreach and mobile registration services.
The Ministry of Health reported in February that 19.3 million people nationwide had registered with SHA.
Health CS Deborah Barasa noted that 8,813 out of 17,755 health facilities had joined the programme, though she expressed concern over low weekend registration rates and slow uptake in counties like Turkana, West Pokot, and Samburu.
She assured that the ministry would intensify efforts to promote SHA registration beyond health service points to reach more people in remote areas.
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