Kenya Minute.
Saturday, 5 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 5 September 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

Social Health Insurance Fund

Also known as: SHIF · SHA/SHIF

Fund within the Social Health Authority that collects health contributions from counties and finances healthcare provider reimbursements.

2026-04-262026-09-05

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2026
  2. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeOnly nine counties are complying with the law requiring them to remit Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) contributions by the ninth day of every month.

    Only nine counties meet SHA statutory remittance deadline
  3. August 2026
  4. Citizen Digital

    llings has been delivered to 239 health facilities across 44 counties and has been crucial in effective disease diagnosis and treatment. “More than half a million surgical procedures and over 50,000 cancer care services have been supported through the Social Health Insurance Fund

    We will not relent until all Kenyans are registered under SHA-DP Kindiki
  5. Capital News

    More than 500,000 surgical procedures and 50,000 cancer care services have also been supported through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF), Prof.

    Kindiki sets August 2027 target for universal SHA registration
  6. The Standard

    The Social Health Insurance Act, which established the legal framework for the Social Health Authority (SHA), created three funds — the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.

    Wetang'ula says health reforms have curbed corruption, reshaped care financing
  7. The Standard

    For instance, in 2024/25, the authority, through one of its funds-SHIF raised claims worth Sh77.9 billion, against revenue pool of Sh55 billion, capturing a Sh25.4 billion deficit in financing.

    SHA enrollment hits 32.2 million but only 5 million pay premiums
  8. The Standard

    Thereafter, eligible care is funded through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) or other applicable payment arrangements.Mwangangi said facilities that lack the capacity to continue managing a patient should not turn them away.

    SHA warns hospitals against denying patients emergency care
  9. The Standard

    Joseph Otieno of the Social Health Authority said the Primary Health Care Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund and Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund all contain provisions that benefit people living with sickle cell disease.

    Kenya joins Africa's push to bring sickle cell care under health insurance
  10. July 2026
  11. Citizen Digital

    Discussions centred on the local manufacture and assembly of affordable, quality wheelchairs, easing taxation on wheelchair components to lower production costs, strengthening the Social Health Insurance Fund benefits package, reducing disability-related stigma, and improving coo

    Health Ministry moves to set up government-led wheelchair service as unmet need hits 550,000
  12. Capital News

    The Commission also ordered the disclosure of payments made by the Social Health Authority and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHA/SHIF) to hospitals from 2025 to the date of the ruling.

    Ombudsman Orders Release of NHIF, SHA Hospital Payment Records Within 21 Days
  13. The Standard

    SHA, has premiums capped at 2.75 percent of earnings, with individuals in private sector too expected to undergo means testing to determine their annual premiums to Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

    Dr Lishenga quits as RUPHA chair after taking on SHA leadership

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Only nine counties remitting health contributions on time

    Nine of 47 counties are meeting the statutory deadline to remit Social Health Insurance Fund contributions by the ninth of each month, while 38 non-compliant counties have accumulated Sh418 million in unpaid contributions and Sh13.6 million in penalties, according to Social Health Authority data presented by Health CS Aden Duale.

    1 September 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 19 August

  1. Kenya targets 40 million SHA registrations by end of year

    Deputy President Kindiki says the government is stepping up efforts to register all Kenyans under the Social Health Authority's Taifa Care programme, targeting 40 million enrollments by year-end after registering 32 million over the last two years, with a goal of universal registration by August next year.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Government targets 40 million SHA registrations by year-end

    Deputy President Kindiki says the government aims to register 40 million Kenyans under the Social Health Authority (SHA) by the end of 2024, up from 32 million over the past two years, with a goal of universal coverage by August 2027.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Health reforms have curbed corruption, reshaped care financing

    National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula said health reforms initiated by the Kenya Kwanza administration are addressing corruption and access to quality care, with Parliament passing four key health laws in 2023 including the Primary Health Care Act and the Facility Improvement Financing Act.

    18 August 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 11 August

  1. SHA registers 32.2 million Kenyans but only 5 million pay premiums

    The Social Health Authority has enrolled 32.2 million Kenyans, described by officials as a record for health insurance uptake, but an insider reports only about 5 million members are actually remitting premiums to the scheme.

    11 August 2026 · The Standard

Monday 3 August

  1. SHA warns contracted hospitals against denying emergency care

    The Social Health Authority has directed all contracted healthcare providers to provide emergency medical care without discrimination based on ability to pay or benefit verification, threatening loss of accreditation for those who deny or delay treatment. The directive invokes Article 43(2) of the Constitution and addresses concerns over patients being asked for upfront payments before receiving urgent care.

    3 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. African countries integrate sickle cell care into health insurance

    African countries including Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania and Ghana are working to integrate sickle cell disease services into their Universal Health Coverage programmes, with experts emphasizing that sustainable financing, early diagnosis and access to medicines are critical to improving patient outcomes. Health experts said embedding sickle cell care into national health systems and social health insurance schemes rather than relying on donor-funded programmes offers the best opportunity to ensure continuous care.

    3 August 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 15 July

  1. Kenya plans government wheelchair service for 550,000 unmet needs

    The Ministry of Health is establishing a government-led wheelchair service delivery system to address Kenya's estimated unmet need of about 550,000 wheelchairs. The Principal Secretary for Medical Services chaired a consultative meeting with service providers, manufacturers, and partners to explore local manufacture, tax relief on components, and improved coordination.

    15 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 10 July

  1. Ombudsman orders NHIF and SHA hospital payment records released

    The Commission on Administrative Justice has ordered the Social Health Authority to disclose disaggregated payment records made to hospitals under the defunct NHIF between 2018 and 2024, and SHA/SHIF payments from 2025 onwards, citing constitutional right to information. The agency has 21 days to comply or face criminal prosecution recommendations.

    10 July 2026 · Capital News

Thursday 2 July

  1. RUPHA chairman resigns citing hostile ties with health ministry

    Dr Brian Lishenga has stepped down as chairman of the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya, citing an increasingly hostile working relationship with the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority. Lishenga said the relationship has deteriorated to a point where meaningful engagement on issues affecting private healthcare providers and SHA payments is no longer possible.

    2 July 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 25 June

  1. Health experts advocate digitalisation to strengthen Kenya's healthcare delivery

    Experts speaking at a national community systems strengthening event in Naivasha say digital technologies and data-driven systems are critical to improving healthcare delivery and achieving Universal Health Coverage in Kenya. The Digital Health Agency is implementing the Afyangu patient portal, which allows Kenyans to register, access health information, make SHIF contributions, and obtain services across health facilities.

    25 June 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 24 June

  1. TSC corrects duplicate NSSF tax relief in June payroll

    The Teachers Service Commission has attributed increased PAYE deductions in June 2026 to a correction of an anomaly in the payroll system where teachers had been benefiting from duplicate tax relief on NSSF contributions. The anomaly arose during reconfiguration of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database system to implement tax exemptions for Affordable Housing Levy and Social Health Insurance Fund contributions under the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. TSC corrects duplicate NSSF tax relief in June payroll

    The Teachers Service Commission attributed increased PAYE deductions in June 2026 to correcting an anomaly where teachers had benefited from duplicate tax relief on National Social Security Fund contributions during a payroll system reconfiguration to implement new tax exemptions for housing and health levies.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. MP Shah Hospital suspended pending SHA billing investigation

    M.P. Shah Hospital has been temporarily suspended from offering services under government-funded health insurance schemes following billing complaints, effective June 23, 2026. The hospital said it will cooperate with the Social Health Authority's investigation.

    24 June 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 20 June

  1. Government strengthens sickle cell care through Taifa Care reforms

    The government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care for people with Sickle Cell Disease through ongoing Taifa Care reforms that strengthen access to quality healthcare. The Principal Secretary for Medical Services said the reforms' four pillars—health financing, primary healthcare, digital health, and health products and technologies—support improved care for patients.

    20 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 14 June

  1. Garissa governor's Sh1,000 gift sparks SHA healthcare debate

    A viral video of Garissa Governor Nathif Jama giving a sick woman Sh1,000 and criticizing the Social Health Authority (SHA) framework has reignited debate over the scheme's reach in the county. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale defended SHA, noting Garissa County has received over Sh1.65 billion through SHA-linked programmes, while the Confraternity of Patients Kenya criticized the state of healthcare in the county.

    14 June 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 6 June

  1. PSSF trustees seek removal from healthcare financing constitutional petition

    The Public Service Superannuation Fund and its Board of Trustees are asking to be removed from a constitutional petition, arguing their mandate is limited to managing pension, gratuity, retirement, disability and death benefits for public servants, and they have no involvement in healthcare financing systems like SHIF or SHA.

    6 June 2026 · Capital News

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Kenya faces cataract surgery backlog, vision crisis threat

    The Ministry of Health warns that Kenya is experiencing a growing vision crisis, with an estimated 77 per cent of patients on the cataract surgery backlog in 2025 projected to die before receiving treatment. Between 2025 and 2029, four people are expected to die without cataract surgery for every one patient treated, according to findings published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.

    3 June 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Wanjigi pledges to abolish SHA, scrap VAT, reject odious debt

    Safina Party leader and 2027 presidential hopeful Jimi Wanjigi vowed during a town hall in Mombasa to abolish the Social Health Authority, remove Value Added Tax, introduce free education from primary to TVET level, and refuse to honour what he described as illegitimate public debt acquired outside proper budgeting processes.

    2 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 31 May

  1. SHA disburses Sh12.7 billion to healthcare providers

    The Social Health Authority paid Sh12.74 billion to healthcare providers in May, with the Social Health Insurance Fund accounting for Sh7.25 billion of the total. Facilities rely on these reimbursements to fund operations, procure medicines, and settle supplier obligations.

    31 May 2026 · Capital News

Monday 18 May

  1. Africa's maternal mortality crisis driven by accountability gaps, not knowledge

    Despite decades of medical progress and available tools to prevent deaths, women across Africa continue to die from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications. Experts argue the crisis stems from gaps in leadership, coordination, and accountability rather than a lack of medical knowledge, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for the majority of the estimated 260,000 global maternal deaths in 2023.

    18 May 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 13 May

  1. Ministry seeks Sh2.3 billion for expired CHP kits

    Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has told Parliament that approximately 102,000 Community Health Promoters are carrying expired kits that should be replaced every two years, and the Ministry of Health is urgently seeking Sh2.3 billion to replace them.

    13 May 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 7 May

  1. Petition challenges legality of SHA, Digital Health systems

    A constitutional petition has been filed at the High Court in Kiambu by Francis Awino challenging the legality of the Social Health Authority, digital health systems and public officer medical schemes, alleging they operate outside the law and conduct insurance functions without statutory authorisation.

    7 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Monday 4 May

  1. Security guards want regulator disbanded over pay enforcement

    Private security guards are calling for the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) to be disbanded, claiming it shields security firms from adhering to labour laws and has failed to enforce a Sh30,000 minimum wage gazetted in November 2024. Representatives of the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union and Protective Guards Association of Kenya say the 12 per cent wage increment announced by President William Ruto during Labour Day celebrations amounts to nothing without PSRA enforcement.

    4 May 2026 · The Standard

Monday 27 April

  1. Ruto urges Africa to boost domestic financing, local medical production

    President William Ruto called on African countries to ensure self-sufficiency in medical supplies and health commodities, emphasizing that Africa's health systems must be financed by both domestic and international capital and that the continent must become an active architect rather than passive participant in global health. He highlighted the need for a radical shift focusing on policy leadership, technology, and mobilisation of domestic resources.

    27 April 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 26 April

  1. KHRC to sue UDA over Ksh69 million unpaid PAYE tax

    The Kenya Human Rights Commission says it will take legal action against the United Democratic Alliance over alleged tax evasion and misuse of public funds. According to the KHRC, an Auditor-General's report found that UDA paid over Ksh128 million in net salaries but failed to deduct and remit Ksh69 million in PAYE tax for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years, and also failed to pay other statutory deductions.

    26 April 2026 · Citizen Digital

Social Health Insurance Fund — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute