President William Ruto has announced a new flexible payment model dubbed “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” (or “Lipa SHA Mos Mos”), aimed at easing access to healthcare for millions of Kenyans in the informal sector. The model will allow citizens to remit their Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions in manageable instalments daily, weekly, or monthly depending on their financial ability.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay County, President Ruto said the move is designed to tackle challenges such as irregular premium payments, especially among informal sector workers who lack predictable income flows.
“This initiative enables Kenyans to remit their annual SHA contributions through flexible, manageable instalments,” Ruto said. “Families will no longer face the risk of losing property or livestock just to afford medical treatment.”
The new model is expected to promote the sustainability of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) while ensuring continuous health coverage for Kenyan families. So far, 1.7 million informal sector households have enrolled in the SHA, according to the President.
The Lipa Pole Pole plan was developed through collaboration between the Ministries of Health, Cooperatives and MSMEs, as well as mobile network operators and financial institutions. The multi-sectoral approach is designed to enhance accessibility and ease of payment, especially through mobile platforms widely used by informal workers.
Ruto urged all Kenyans to take personal responsibility for their health by enrolling in the SHA scheme. “Let us unite to build a healthcare system rooted in dignity, equality, and compassion; a system where access to care is a right, not a privilege for a few,” he said.
However, the initiative comes at a time when experts and citizens alike have expressed concerns over the affordability of SHA contributions. The current monthly deduction rate is capped at 2.75%, a figure many say is still too high given the economic pressures faced by informal sector workers. Calls have been made for the government to either reduce premium rates or improve the economic environment to allow broader compliance.
Nonetheless, the flexible payment plan offers a hopeful path forward toward achieving universal health coverage in Kenya.
