President William Ruto has announced plans to expand the Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits package to cover more health needs, including free diapers for mothers who give birth in public healthcare facilities.
Ruto made the announcement on Tuesday, August 18, during the Kenya Health Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The President said the government was reviewing the SHA package and intended to add more services and benefits as part of efforts to make healthcare more affordable for Kenyan families.
He said the diaper benefit, which he linked to a commitment made in the government’s manifesto, is expected to be included in the revised package by October 30.
“Our commitment for diapers is going to be included in the package which we are saying is being reviewed. By October 30, the benefit package will now include the diapers, as we consider the lotions needed and all the other outstanding agendas.”
The proposed benefit would come at a time when new parents are facing rising costs associated with caring for newborns.
Besides medical expenses, families have to budget for items such as diapers, clothing, food and other basic needs during the first months after birth.
Under the proposed SHA changes, Ruto said mothers giving birth in healthcare facilities covered by the government would receive the additional support alongside existing maternity and child health services.
However, the President did not give details on how many diapers each mother would receive, the type of diapers to be provided or how the benefit would be accessed once the changes take effect.
It is also not yet clear whether the benefit will be available for every mother covered by SHA or whether there will be specific eligibility requirements.
SHA package under review
The announcement is part of wider changes the government is making to the SHA package.
The government has been under pressure to expand the range of services covered by the health scheme as Kenyans continue to raise concerns over the cost of treatment and access to healthcare.
Ruto said the government was looking at additional health needs that could be incorporated into the package.
The President also directed that more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) be incorporated into the SHA programme.
The government is expected to review the stipend arrangement for the CHPs by December 2026.
The CHPs play a key role in providing health education, screening, early detection and referrals at the community level.
New requirements for hospitals
Meanwhile, SHA is also tightening requirements for healthcare facilities contracted under the scheme.
The authority has made the use of accredited Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) mandatory for healthcare providers seeking contracts under the 2026/28 contracting cycle.
Under the new requirement, both existing and prospective SHA-contracted facilities must have a certified HMIS that meets technical integration standards set by SHA and the Digital Health Agency.
The system is expected to improve the sharing of patient information and claims processing while strengthening accountability within the health system.
For new mothers, however, the proposed diaper benefit could become one of the more visible changes if it is implemented as announced.
The government will now have to provide more details on how the programme will work, including the number of diapers to be provided, who will qualify and how facilities will distribute them.
Until then, the October 30 deadline given by the President will be closely watched by mothers and families waiting to see whether the promise becomes part of their actual SHA benefits.
