More than 26 million Kenyans have enrolled in the new Social Health Authority, marking one of the most ambitious attempts yet to expand healthcare access in the country.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale made the announcement on Wednesday in Ol-Kalou, Nyandarua County, where he launched the latest phase of Taifa Care, a universal health initiative rolled out last October.
“This progress is the result of determined county-by-county registration,” Mr Duale told a gathering of local leaders and residents. “We must ensure no Kenyan is left behind.”
The government sees the enrolment surge as proof that the reforms, which replaced the scandal-plagued National Health Insurance Fund, are gaining public trust. Mr Duale urged counties to sustain momentum, while warning against politicising healthcare. “We need to delink health from politics. Let it serve the purpose it is meant to serve,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary also pledged new investments in Nyandarua’s health system, including plans to upgrade JM Kariuki Memorial Hospital from a Level 4 to a Level 5 facility. The change would mean more specialised care locally, sparing patients the burden of travelling to neighbouring counties for treatment. Several smaller health centres are also due for upgrades.
Officials insist the reforms are not just about registration but about building a reliable system of funding and care. Mercy Mwangangi, chief executive of the Social Health Authority, said the scheme has already collected 70 billion shillings since its launch. By contrast, the former National Health Insurance Fund gathered only 45 billion in its lifetime.
Dr Mwangangi added that of the 26 million registered members, 890,000 come from the informal sector, while four million are salaried workers. In total, 4.8 million Kenyans are currently active contributors.
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Millions of informal workers have yet to register, and questions linger over how the Authority will guarantee timely access to quality services. Still, for many Kenyans, the promise of a functioning system of health cover is a long-awaited step.
Mr Duale appealed for patience. “Reforms take time,” he said, “but we are committed to fixing health care delivery.”
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