More than 4.5 million Kenyans have already benefited from the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, which is now fully operational and transforming access to healthcare across the country. According to Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga, SHA has disbursed over Sh43 billion since its rollout just eight months ago.
Speaking on the programme’s progress, Oluga highlighted that SHA has rapidly gained public trust, registering 23 million members so far, with 50,000 new sign-ups daily. The initiative aims to ensure every Kenyan has access to affordable, quality healthcare, irrespective of their income status.
“Over 4.5 million Kenyans have accessed treatment through SHA at no extra cost,” said Oluga, emphasizing that the services are completely covered under the new health scheme.
The Emergency Fund, fully financed by the government, is now active and provides immediate support during critical situations, in line with constitutional mandates. Meanwhile, the Primary Healthcare Fund is also operational and covers patient costs at SHA-accredited Level 2 to Level 4 facilities, including public, private, and faith-based institutions.
Oluga pointed out that SHA has prioritized efficiency, with healthcare providers receiving payments every 14 days. This fast-tracked settlement system ensures continued service delivery and builds confidence among service providers.
To make the programme even more accessible, President William Ruto announced during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay the launch of the “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” initiative. This flexible payment system will allow Kenyans to contribute to SHA in small, manageable installments monthly, weekly, or even daily.
“This initiative will solve the issue of irregular payments, especially for informal sector workers, by offering them a practical and inclusive solution,” Ruto stated.
Oluga encouraged all Kenyans to register for SHA by dialing *147# a simple and user-friendly system designed for ease of access. The government hopes this growing adoption of SHA will bring Kenya closer to achieving universal health coverage and ensure that no citizen is left behind when it comes to healthcare
