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Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 22 July 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

Social Health Insurance Fund

Also known as: SHIF · SHA/SHIF

Social Health Insurance Fund — health financing mechanism accounting for Sh7.25 billion of SHA's May 2026 disbursements to healthcare providers.

2026-04-262026-07-22

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. The Standard

    Eye care services are also covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund, allowing insured patients to access treatment in government, faith-based and selected private hospitals.

    Eye diseases surge as Kenya battles cataract backlog and dangerous misuse of steroid eye drops
  3. Citizen Digital

    On healthcare, Wanjigi promised to dismantle the current health insurance framework under SHA and replace it with a system that guarantees treatment for all Kenyans using national identification cards. “Hakuna mtu atatoa pesa kwa mfuko yake alipe SHA tena…hakuna SHA, hakuna SHIF,

    Wanjigi vows to reject ‘odious' debt, scrap SHA and VAT if elected president in 2027
  4. May 2026
  5. Capital News

    NAIROBI, Kenya, May 31– The Social Health Authority (SHA) paid Sh12.74 billion to healthcare providers in its May claims cycle, with the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) accounting for Sh7.25 billion of the total disbursement.

    SHA Pays Sh12.7 Billion to Healthcare Providers in May Claims Cycle
  6. The Standard

    Subscribe to our newsletterKenya has made some progress through the Social Health Insurance Fund under the Social Health Authority, which covers maternal services.However, Dr Macharia argues that integration should go further to include HIV testing, early infant diagnosis, and an

    Known fixes, missing action: Why safe childbirth still slips in Africa
  7. The Standard

    s IV.These include Universal Health Coverage, with Duale saying that the Government is seeking to increase Health Insurance Coverage for the poor and vulnerable groups through Government support, ensure full coverage of all Kenyan households under the Social Health Insurance Fund

    Concerns over CHP kits
  8. Citizen Digital

    = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); The case also raises concerns over the financial sustainability and legality of the Social Health Insurance Fund

    Petition filed to suspend SHA, Digital Health rollout over legality questions
  9. The Standard

    sonable and necessary step to safeguard workers' livelihoods with pay being Sh18,994, house allowance of Sh2,849.11 and overtime allowance of Sh8,156.81 totaling to Sh30,000.The statutory deductions were National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of Sh1080, Social Health Insurance Fund

    Private security guards fault regulator over pay, working conditions
  10. April 2026
  11. Citizen Digital

    Additionally, the government has collected KSh169 billion ($1.3 billion) in the past two years in the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund, the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund.

    Ruto calls for domestic financing and local production to strengthen Africa’s health systems
  12. Citizen Digital

    It also alleged the party failed to pay other statutory deductions, including withholding tax, the public procurement capacity building levy, National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), warning that this puts employees at risk o

    KHRC to sue UDA over alleged Ksh.69 million tax evasion, misuse of public funds

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