By Munale Joram
President William Ruto has announced the introduction of a flexible payment plan dubbed Lipa SHA Pole Pole for the newly launched Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance, allowing Kenyans to pay their annual premiums in manageable instalments.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay, President Ruto emphasized that the move is aimed at addressing challenges of irregular premium payments, particularly among workers in the informal sector.
“To address persistent challenges such as irregular premium payments, especially among the informal sector, the Government of Kenya is introducing an inclusive payment solution known as Lipa SHA Pole Pole,” said Ruto.
The president stated that under the new initiative, Kenyans can choose to remit their SHA contributions on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis depending on their financial capacity. The scheme is made possible through a partnership involving the Ministry of Health, cooperatives, financial institutions, and mobile network providers, supported by the Hustler Fund infrastructure.
President Ruto further disclosed that 50,000 Kenyans have already registered with the Social Health Authority, which aims to provide healthcare coverage to over 45 million citizens. He highlighted that the government remains committed to ensuring that all Kenyans, regardless of income level, can access quality healthcare.
However, even as the government pushes ahead with the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative, the World Bank has raised concerns about its implementation.
In a report released on May 27, the global financial institution urged the Kenyan government to review its approach to both the rollout and funding model of the SHIF. The World Bank cautioned that rolling out a contributory health insurance scheme in an economy heavily reliant on the informal sector could face significant financing challenges and limit effectiveness.
The SHA replaces the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) under the broader UHC reforms that aim to guarantee access to affordable and equitable healthcare for all Kenyans.
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