The Social Health Authority (SHA) and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) replaced Kenya’s National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) on October 1, 2024. NHIF had been essential in providing affordable healthcare, especially for low-income citizens.
Despite opposition from private hospitals, medical unions, and political groups, the government implemented SHA/SHIF, citing the need to curb corruption within NHIF, where hospitals allegedly filed fraudulent claims.
Progress Update on SHA Registration pic.twitter.com/CJlXZ1awot
— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) January 29, 2025
SHA/SHIF Problems:
Critics argue the SHA rollout was rushed and politically motivated, designed to facilitate corruption rather than improve healthcare.
Kenya Union of Clinical Officers SG Peterson Wachira says SHA decisions are being made by cartels
Video By Tomian Nyongesa pic.twitter.com/S33Lqo7GN6
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) January 22, 2025
Previously, NHIF covered up to 80% of major medical expenses. Under #SHA, patients now receive as little as 1-10% coverage despite higher mandatory salary deductions (2.75% of gross income).
The digital system supporting SHA has been plagued by failures, despite costing taxpayers a staggering Ksh. 94 billion ($900 million). Due to frequent system crashes, many patients are denied treatment or forced to pay out-of-pocket.
What Next for the Kenyan Healthcare System?
Public outrage has intensified, with incidents such as an elderly woman (Grace Mulei) and a young mother storming the Health Minister’s office, demanding answers for denied medical care.
Grace Mulei was then arrested in an abduction-like style, but later released.
“I am just a nurse who hates seeing patients suffer because of SHA,” Grace Njoki says after being freed on Ksh. 10,000 police bail pic.twitter.com/jZ484P4gAH
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) January 24, 2025
With Kenya’s average monthly household income at $400, many find medical expenses unaffordable under the new system. The widespread system failures and reduced benefits have led to calls for a reversal to NHIF or a complete healthcare policy overhaul.
