NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has announced a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), revealing that more than 45,000 Kenyans are registering daily with the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA).
This rapid growth, the President noted, demonstrates the country’s increasing commitment to building an inclusive and accessible healthcare system.
Speaking at State House during the swearing-in ceremony of two new Cabinet Secretaries and 14 Principal Secretaries, President Ruto commended the rising public awareness and the growing willingness to embrace the new health insurance system, which he described as a major stride in the government’s quest to provide healthcare for all.
“The last time we had the highest registration in health insurance was about 7.8 million. Now, under this program, we have 21 million Kenyans registered,” Ruto stated. “On my dashboard, every day, between 45,000 and 50,000 Kenyans are voluntarily signing up because many are realizing that this program is working.”
The surge in registrations, particularly from informal sector workers, including bodaboda riders and small traders, has been seen as a positive indication of the scheme’s broader impact.
“The 50,000 Kenyans registering every day are the people who are out there—the bodaboda and mama mboga guys—who have realized that this program includes everybody,” Ruto remarked.
The Social Health Authority, which replaced the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), aims to extend healthcare coverage to all Kenyans, regardless of their employment status or income.
Although the implementation of the new system has faced some challenges, the government remains confident that it is the best model for achieving UHC and addressing healthcare disparities across the nation.
“We are building an equitable healthcare system where no Kenyan is left behind,” the President affirmed, adding that the inclusive approach adopted by his government would ensure the successful delivery of UHC.
Ruto expressed pride in the progress made so far, emphasizing that the administration’s unity and collaborative efforts were key to the success of the health coverage initiative.
The broad-based government, he said, is now well-positioned to fulfill its promise of providing accessible, affordable healthcare to all citizens.
