Medical Services principal secretary Ouma Oluga during a past meeting/MOHMedical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga has announced that the Social Health Authority (SHA) is now fully operational and transforming healthcare access across the country.
In an update on its progress, Oluga said as of now the programme has registered 23 million members, with 50,000 new registrations daily.
Since its rollout, he stated, Sh43 billion has been disbursed in just eight months, reflecting rapid scale-up and public demand.
“So far, over 4.5 million Kenyans have accessed treatment through SHA, fully paid for with no extra cost to them,” Oluga revealed.
The PS further confirmed that the Emergency Fund is up and running, financed fully by the government in line with the constitution.
Additionally, he said the Primary Healthcare Fund is now operational and covering patient costs at all SHA-contracted Level 2 to Level 4 facilities, be they public, private, or faith-based, without patients spending a single shilling.
Another key advancement is SHA's commitment to efficiency.
Oluga said payments are settled every 14 days, something that ensures uninterrupted care and provider confidence.
To make access even more inclusive, SHA has also introduced a flexible payment option:
Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay, President William Ruto said the “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” will allow Kenyans to pay in manageable installments.
"We are introducing an innovative and inclusive payment solution called Lipa SHA pole pole or Lipa SHA mos mos. This initiative will enable Kenyans to remit their annual SHA contribution through installments, whether monthly, weekly, or daily," Ruto said.
The new system, he stated, would address long-standing challenges of irregular payments, especially among informal workers, by offering a practical solution that fits their needs.
Oluga at the same time urged all Kenyans to take advantage of the service by dialing *147# to register or manage their SHA accounts.
The system has been designed such that it is simple and user-friendly for every Kenyan to dial and follow the prompts to start their contributions.
