The government has tasked the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) with overseeing the registration of Social Health Insurance.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said NGAO has been tasked to ensure the registration of 12 million households.
The CS said the government intends to meet the target within a short time frame.
"The Government has given National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) across the Country with the support of the Community Health Promoters (CHP), a target of mobilising the registration of 12 million households, approximately 36 million Kenyans, into Social Health Insurance to enable the realisation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)," Kindiki said in a statement on X.
"As we have done with other national programmes, we intend to meet this target in the shortest possible time. The Ministry of Interior is proud to be associated with this historic and defining program."
Kindiki said the exercise will be undertaken in collaboration with Community Health Promoters (CPHs).
Transitioning NHIF to SHA is part of government efforts to roll out universal health coverage (UHC).
The Social Health Authority (SHA) is mandated to manage three funds that will replace NHIF.
These are the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund.
Members will contribute 2.75 per cent of their income to SHIF, while the government will pay for Kenyans who are unable to raise the premium.
"As such, every Kenyan citizen, including dependents, is mandated by law to register as a member of the SHA,” acting SHA CEO Elijah Wachira, said in a public notice on September 18.
“Payments received on or before October 9, 2024, will be credited to NHIF. Payments received from November 9, 2024, onwards will be credited to SHA,” Wachira said.
The Appellate court allowed the rollout of the Social Health Authority to proceed on October 1 as planned.
The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Ministry of Health, affirming that its appeal holds merit.
“In these complex circumstances, we are inclined to grant a stay as the High Court decision is reviewed by this Court, pending an authoritative ruling on the validity of the three statutes,” the court said.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) is set to replace the 58-year-old National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) effective October 1, 2024.
