The Social Health Authority (SHA) is marking its first anniversary today, a year after Kenya embarked on one of its most ambitious health reforms to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all citizens.
Launched in October 2024 to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), SHA has been at the center of implementing President William Ruto’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan.
Over the past year, the Authority has registered millions of Kenyans under its new contributory scheme, widened access to essential health services, and rolled out digitized systems aimed at curbing fraud and streamlining claims.
According to SHA, The Social Health Authority (SHA) has so far on-boarded over 26.5million Kenyans.
The authority has also expanded partnerships with county governments to strengthen primary healthcare facilities and ensure drugs and equipment are available at the grassroots.
The President William Ruto said 26.5 million Kenyans have already registered with SHA.
“In the next one year, fundraisers for medical bills will reduce. People will no longer sell property to pay medical bills,” Ruto said at a past event.
Stakeholders in the health sector have praised SHA’s focus on digital claims processing, which has cut down corruption loopholes and reduced delays in hospital reimbursements.
As SHA enters its second year, it is now working on expanding coverage to informal sector workers and vulnerable groups, while also enhancing partnerships with private insurers to improve sustainability.
The Authority says its vision is clear: to ensure that no Kenyan is pushed into poverty by the cost of healthcare.
