NAIROBI, Kenya — Hospitals and other healthcare facilities across Kenya risk losing access to the Social Health Authority (SHA) system from Thursday if they fail to complete contracting for the new 2026–2029 cycle.
SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mercy Mwangangi said existing contracts with healthcare providers will expire at 11:59pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Facilities without an executed contract for the new cycle will no longer be allowed to provide services to SHA beneficiaries from October 1.
SHA to Switch Off Uncontracted Facilities
In a notice issued on Monday, Mwangangi warned that healthcare providers that have not completed the contracting process will lose access to the SHA provider portal.
“Providers without an executed contract for the 2026–2029 cycle will not be permitted to offer services to SHA beneficiaries after that date, and their access to the SHA provider portal will be switched off,” Mwangangi said.
The warning leaves hospitals and other facilities with only days to complete outstanding requirements before the current contracts expire.
Patients Could Face Disruptions
The deadline could affect patients who rely on particular hospitals and clinics for treatment under SHA.
Patients undergoing ongoing care, including those requiring regular reviews, procedures and other covered services, could be affected if their preferred facilities do not secure new contracts.
SHA has directed facilities that fail to obtain new contracts to make arrangements for the transfer of patients already receiving treatment to contracted providers.
The move is intended to minimise interruptions to treatment as the new contracting cycle takes effect.
Providers Urged to Complete Applications
SHA has urged healthcare providers that want to continue serving its beneficiaries to apply for new contracts and complete all outstanding requirements before October 1.
The authority said responsibility rests with individual providers to ensure that their applications, verification and contract execution are completed before the deadline.
Facilities with pending requirements have been asked to act promptly to avoid being locked out of the system.
New SHA Contracts Run to 2029
The contracting exercise marks the transition to the 2026–2029 healthcare provider contracting cycle.
The new contracts will run from October 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029.
The framework covers services under the Primary Health Care Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund, Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund.
HAKIKA Moves Contracting Online
The Ministry of Health said the new framework, known as HAKIKA, is designed to strengthen contracting, verification, payment, and accountability between SHA and healthcare providers.
The contracting process is being conducted through SHA’s electronic contracting platform.
Healthcare facilities can use the system to submit applications, provide supporting documents, undergo verification, and execute their contracts digitally.
