NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s new universal health coverage scheme, the Social Health Authority (SHA), is now fully operational and rapidly transforming healthcare access across the country, Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga has announced.
Speaking on the progress of the flagship programme, Oluga revealed that SHA has registered over 23 million members, with 50,000 new sign-ups daily — a reflection of growing public uptake since its rollout eight months ago.
“More than Sh43 billion has already been disbursed under SHA,” Oluga said, adding that over 4.5 million Kenyans have accessed treatment through the scheme at no additional cost.
Oluga also confirmed that key components of SHA are now in place, including:
- The Emergency Fund, fully financed by the government;
- The Primary Healthcare Fund, now covering patient costs at all Level 2 to Level 4 facilities contracted by SHA — whether public, private, or faith-based.
“This ensures that patients do not pay even a single shilling when they seek care at participating facilities,” said Oluga.
To build trust with healthcare providers and ensure continuity of care, the PS said SHA processes payments every 14 days, a significant improvement from historical delays under previous systems.
In a bid to enhance inclusivity, President William Ruto announced a new installment-based payment option dubbed “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” or “Lipa SHA Mos Mos” during Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay.
“This initiative will enable Kenyans to remit their annual SHA contribution through manageable installments — whether monthly, weekly, or even daily,” the president said.
The system is aimed especially at informal sector workers, who often struggle with lump-sum payments, providing them with a more flexible and sustainable contribution model.
Oluga encouraged all Kenyans to register and manage their SHA accounts by dialing *147#, saying the platform is simple and user-friendly to ensure widespread accessibility.
