President William Ruto reaffirmed his confidence in the Social Health Authority (SHA), a newly launched health scheme, during the 61st Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kwale.

He assured Kenyans that this initiative will lead to effective universal health coverage.

The president emphasized that the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under SHA will revolutionize healthcare, making preventive and curative services accessible to all citizens.

Ruto encouraged Kenyans to trust the system, promising that the new health scheme will be fully functional within weeks.

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

Once the migration from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is complete, the value for money will be undeniable,” he stated.

He also allayed fears of job losses among NHIF staff, confirming that all employees will transition to the new scheme without losing their positions.

As of early October, 12.9 million Kenyans registered with SHA, and 50% of private healthcare facilities are onboard.

President Ruto urged private hospitals to expedite the contracting process to ensure the smooth rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

To further support the program, he announced the disbursement of Ksh.3 billion to settle pending payments to service providers.

However, the scheme has faced some controversy.

The automatic enrolment of NHIF members into SHA without prior consent sparked an uproar among Kenyans.

Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai clarified that the move was legal under legal notice 147 of 2024, facilitating the transition of all registered NHIF members into SHA.

The new scheme will require Kenyans to contribute 2.75% of their income monthly, with a minimum contribution of Ksh.300.

Despite the concerns, Ruto expressed optimism that SHA will successfully achieve its goal of providing universal healthcare to all Kenyans.