Wamumbi: President Ruto initiated SHA registration to identify chronic disease patients

President William Ruto has launched the Social Health Authority (SHA) registration drive to assist the government in identifying Kenyans with chronic and lifestyle diseases, according to Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi. During a recent K24 TV interview, Wamumbi defended the government's push for SHA registration, stating that the exercise is aimed at improving planning and budgeting in the health sector.

Comparing the SHA registration effort to the government's agricultural data collection, Wamumbi explained that both approaches involve gathering essential data to facilitate effective resource allocation.

The MP emphasized that the President initiated the SHA registration process to enable the government to track the number of individuals suffering from chronic and lifestyle diseases. Wamumbi argued that accurate data is crucial for planning healthcare services and allocating resources more efficiently. As the government continues to encourage Kenyans to register with SHA, the new system, which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) under the social health insurance scheme, Wamumbi highlighted economic indicators pointing towards the country's positive trajectory.

He pointed out the significant drop in fertilizer prices, from approximately Ksh7,500 to Ksh2,500 per bag, and the reduction in maize flour prices from Ksh247 to Ksh130 per packet. Furthermore, the dollar has strengthened, with its value decreasing from Ksh162 to Ksh129 per US dollar.

Wamumbi also mentioned that the Social Health Authority has been actively involved in verifying pending NHIF claims worth Ksh10 million and above as part of their efforts to settle inherited claims in the 2026/27 financial year. This process targets high-value claims owed to healthcare facilities and follows a previous government payment program that focused on verified claims of Ksh10 million and below.

The Social Health Authority highlighted that the verification process is crucial for addressing outstanding liabilities inherited from the defunct NHIF and enhancing the management of Kenya's health insurance system.