President William Ruto has instructed county governors to ensure that all public health facilities are registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), a step he emphasized as essential for enabling these institutions to receive timely government reimbursements through the national health insurance scheme.
Speaking during a meeting with governors on Thursday, June 5, Ruto underscored the importance of compliance, noting that unregistered public facilities hinder access to quality healthcare. He urged governors to set clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for their County Executive Committee (CEC) members and Chief Officers to fast-track the registration process.
“We have many public facilities that are still not registered. Unlike private institutions, which are largely compliant, these unregistered public centers are missing out on government funds,” the President said. “I’m asking governors to direct your health officers and ensure registration is prioritized.”
The directive follows Ruto’s recent announcement during Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, where he introduced the “Lipa Polepole” scheme to make SHA contributions more affordable for workers in the informal sector. This initiative will allow Kenyans to pay their annual health premiums in flexible installments—daily, weekly, or monthly—depending on individual financial capacity.
“This solution is designed to address challenges like irregular contributions among informal sector workers. The ‘Lipa SHA Polepole’ plan ensures that even the most financially vulnerable can access healthcare coverage,” Ruto said.
The SHA rollout comes amid calls from the World Bank for policy refinement. In a report released on May 27, the Bank recommended that low-income earners in the formal sector be exempt from contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and that the government should fully fund their coverage.
As of May 13, 2025, over 22 million Kenyans have enrolled in SHA, according to Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga.
Ruto’s directive is expected to accelerate the full implementation of the SHA programme, ensuring that all eligible health facilities—especially public ones—are brought into the fold for effective service delivery under the universal healthcare initiative.
