MPs sound alarm as 32 million Kenyans join SHA but only 5 million pay
The Social Health Authority (SHA) has registered more than 32 million Kenyans, but only about 5 million had paid their premiums by July 31, 2026, prompting Members of Parliament to demand stronger efforts to turn registration into active health coverage. The figures presented to the National Assembly Health Committee show a stark gap between SHA […]
The Social Health Authority (SHA) has registered over 32 million Kenyans in its health insurance program, but as of July 31, 2026, only approximately 5 million had made their premium payments, according to figures presented to the National Assembly Health Committee. This has drawn the attention of Members of Parliament, who are calling for more efforts to convert registration into active health coverage.
The committee noted the stark contrast between the number of people registered with SHA and those who have actually paid their premiums, highlighting a significant challenge in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program. SHA's CEO, Mercy Mwangangi, acknowledged the difficulty for some households in making regular payments due to fluctuating incomes and assured the committee that SHA is developing contribution plans that take these realities into account.
The committee emphasized that registration alone is insufficient; it's crucial to focus on increasing the number of active contributors to ensure that more Kenyans can benefit from the scheme when they need healthcare.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
