President William Ruto has announced that the government will take full responsibility for paying Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions on behalf of 2.2 million Kenyans.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, the President said the initiative targets 558,000 vulnerable households who will now be covered under the SHA sponsorship programme. This, he explained, is part of the government’s commitment to ensure that all Kenyans, regardless of their financial situation, can access healthcare without discrimination.
“These families will receive comprehensive healthcare coverage under SHA, and they will not be required to pay a cent for their contributions,” President Ruto said. He added that the list of households had already been prepared and shared with community leaders and partners willing to support the initiative.
The President also revealed that a philanthropist, who preferred to remain anonymous, had pledged to sponsor 113,000 additional Kenyans under SHA. He welcomed the contribution, noting that public-private partnerships would play an important role in expanding access to healthcare.
Beyond sponsorships, Ruto announced that the government would invest heavily in medical infrastructure. He said counties across the country will soon receive medical equipment worth Ksh 220 billion, aimed at addressing shortages and improving healthcare delivery in public hospitals.
He also highlighted ongoing plans to digitise services in Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals, noting that the digital rollout is expected to be completed by November. According to the President, this will streamline service delivery, reduce paperwork, and improve accountability within the healthcare system.
The SHA, which officially replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024, is at the centre of Kenya’s push for universal healthcare. Since its rollout, the programme has already registered 4.8 million contributors drawn from both salaried workers and the informal sector. Ruto said this demonstrates public confidence in the scheme and the determination to make healthcare more accessible to all citizens.
The President emphasised that the government’s sponsorship of 2.2 million Kenyans is only the beginning. He said the plan is to progressively expand the programme until all vulnerable households are fully included in the country’s healthcare safety net.
“This initiative ensures that no Kenyan will be left behind when it comes to healthcare. Every life matters, and our goal is to build a nation where access to medical services is a right, not a privilege,” he said.
The announcement has drawn wide interest as it represents one of the largest government-backed healthcare sponsorships in Kenya’s history. While supporters see it as a bold step toward universal health coverage, questions remain about the long-term sustainability of the scheme, given the high costs involved.
Still, the President assured Kenyans that the government is committed to seeing the SHA programme succeed, saying it is a cornerstone of his administration’s social agenda.
IMAGE: The Standard
