Cabinet Reveals When Mass Registration For Social Health Authority Will Begin
The new SHA will see Kenyans required to pay 2.75 per cent of their gross salary to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF)
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The Cabinet has approved the framework that will see the full transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), bringing an end to the former which has been in existence for 58 years.
The transition will officially take place from July 1, 2024, with the Ministry of Health tasked with leading a nationwide registration exercise from June 21, 2024.
"In furtherance of the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, Cabinet approved the framework for a full transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) beginning 1st July 2024. To facilitate this transition, the Ministry of Health will lead a mass registration exercise commencing on 21st June 2024, across all 47 counties and on all platforms," read the despatch in part.
NHIF Building in Nairobi. /KENYAN WALLSTREET
The Cabinet consequently urged all Kenyans to register under the new scheme in the historic endeavour to usher Kenya into the "League of Nations with health coverage for all".
"Kenyans can register on phone, at all public hospitals and through the 100,000 Community Health Promoters across the country," added the despatch.
The new SHA will see Kenyans required to pay 2.75 per cent of their gross salary to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) from July 1, under the new Social Health Authority (SHA). Unemployed Kenyans will only pay a minimum of Ksh300.
On November 22, 2023, the Social Health Insurance Act 2023 came into force after being assented to by President William Ruto on October 19, 2023.
The Act led to the establishment of the Social Health Authority which will be a key driver in the country's dream to attain Universal Health Coverage agenda. The authority replaced the repealed National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha in a previous interview with Citizen TV warned Kenyans of surveillance in a bid to collect contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), revealing that the government will observe what she called the economic characteristics of every unemployed or self-employed Kenyan to determine how they will remit 2.75 per cent of their income to the fund.
This is despite the registration process including a segment where Kenyans will declare their income by themselves.
"There are things that as a human being you can hide and cannot hide. You cannot hide your economic characteristics. If I look at the watch that you are wearing, I can give an estimate of what your income is without you telling me.
"I want to speak to Kenyans and tell them there are things you cannot hide. If you live in a grass-thatched house, you cannot hide. If you live in a tiled house, there are things that you'll do and somebody will know that as much as you want to look like you don't earn, this is your level of income," she said.
Other resolutions
Meanwhile, the Cabinet resolved to sell shares in six key institutions as part of an ambitious plan to reshape state agencies.
The government aims to divest 25.3 per cent of its shares and 27 per cent held by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in East African Portland Cement Limited, alongside significant stakes in five other companies.
The state will offload 3.36 per cent of its shares in the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), 2.41 per cent in the Housing Finance Company of Kenya Limited, 1.1 per cent in Stanbic Holdings, 0.9 per cent in Liberty Kenya Holdings, and 17.2 per cent in Eveready East Africa PLC through the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC).
