President William Ruto has disclosed that employees of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) will not lose their jobs as the country adopts Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations on Sunday October 20, 2024 in Kwale, President Ruto noted that employees of NHIF will be managed in accordance with the provisions of the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023.

In addition, the President assured Kenyans that SHIF will be fully functional in a few weeks.

“I am aware that during this transition period, employees of the former NHIF will be managed in accordance with the provisions of the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023. 

“I want to assure them that no one will lose their jobs, and I appreciate their dedication and service during this transition,” said President Ruto.

According to the president, SHIF will be serving Kenyans efficiently and making the dream of Universal Health Coverage come true.

He emphasized that healthcare is a priority under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. 

“We are advancing the scope of the Universal Health Coverage to give every Kenyan access to promotive, preventive, curative and emergency services.

“Through SHIF, citizens will contribute and access comprehensive healthcare benefits. 

“The value for money in this scheme will be undeniable once the migration from the National Health Insurance Fund is completed and the fund is fully operational,” he said. 

The Head of State explained that by the beginning of October 2024, 12.9 million Kenyans were registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), and all public health institutions, along with 50% of private facilities, were already enrolled to provide services. 

“We urge private hospitals to expedite the contracting process to enable us to complete the final phase of the Universal Health Coverage rollout. 

“To accelerate this rollout, the Government of Kenya has released Ksh 3 billion to settle outstanding payments to service providers,” he said. 

The president added that his government has implemented strong institutional and strategic measures to extend the impact of Universal Health Coverage by developing the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and medical supplies production industries. 

To enhance healthcare delivery and ensure the security of medical supplies, the government is improving the overall supply chain, starting with capacity upgrades and the establishment of Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) regional distribution centres in Kisumu, Embakasi, and Mombasa.