The Ministry of Health has said a total of 19,340, 978 people have been registered for the Social Health Authority (SHA).
In a statement on Wednesday, Health CS Deborah Barasa said the means testing has been conducted for 3.33 million registrants, adding that this remains sub-optimal.
At the same time, she added that 8,813 out of 17,755 health facilities, being 56 percent of all active facilities, have enrolled, with 89 percent having successful logins.
“Over one million Kenyans have accessed primary healthcare services since October 2024,” Barasa stated.
MoH added that the average processing time for pre-authorization requests has significantly reduced from 526 minutes to 76 minutes.
The CS however lamented that the registration rates over the weekends remain low, and there is limited registration in Turkana, West Pokot and Samburu counties.
Barasa said it will intensify community outreach to encourage SHA registration beyond health service points.
She said they will also continue capacity building for healthcare facilities transitioning from manual to digital systems.
She assured that the government continues to make strides in strengthening public health systems and emergency preparedness.
The CS added that the government remains committed to maintaining essential health services, including programs for HIV, TB, malaria and other critical conditions, despite shifting global health landscapes.
Barasa noted that the recent funding uncertainties and international policy changes—particularly from the US government—present challenges.
“However, Kenya is proactively engaging with internal and external stakeholders to develop strategies that safeguard service continuity and promote sustainable healthcare financing,” Barasa said.
She stated that strengthening the resilience of Kenya’s healthcare system is a top priority.
“By adapting to emerging realities and leveraging local solutions, the Ministry of Health aims to drive long-term sustainability while continuing to meet the health needs of Kenyans,” she added.
So far, a strategic shift is underway to integrate HIV and TB management into the general healthcare system, aligning with global best practices for holistic service delivery.
