SHA hits 24.8 million registrations as TAIFA Care gains momentum
Victor Kiplagat and Kamau Daniel-KNA
At least 24.8 million Kenyans have enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA), a milestone that has been attributed to the aggressive county-by-county registration campaigns.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has lauded the progress of SHA reforms since the rollout of TAIFA Care on October 1, 2024.
“We head to Nakuru to keep this momentum alive so that no Kenyan is left behind,” he said during a press briefing, urging timely remittance of contributions to sustain the Fund.
According to Duale, 4.5 million Kenyans have accessed treatment for common illnesses and maternal care under the primary health care component, while 2.2 million have benefited from specialized care, including 8,000 patients undergoing dialysis and 18,000 receiving cancer treatment.
The CS noted that maternal health coverage has supported over 515,000 deliveries since October 2024.
To date, Duale added that SHA has paid out Sh6.8 billion in primary healthcare claims, with an additional Sh1.5 billion scheduled to be paid.
“We are keen on strengthening claim processing and verification to ensure funds are utilized transparently and only valid claims are honored,” he stressed.
The CS further urged Kenyans to report illegal charges at government facilities, emphasizing that Sh13 billion has been allocated to fund free primary healthcare which are mainly Level Two to Four facilities.
Duale revealed that he had just received a report from the independent committee investigating kidney transplants and organ trafficking.
“It is a public document, and I encourage the media to analyze it. It addresses legal, ethical, and medical gaps while recommending actionable reforms,” he said.
He promised to present the findings to Parliament and the Cabinet, adding that the report would be implemented fully.
Duale called on Kenyans to be patient with ongoing reforms.
“We are building a system that ensures fairness, accountability, and universal access to healthcare. Our focus is on integrity, innovation, and service delivery,” he said.
He directed patients with complaints to use the Ministry of Health’s Toll-Free Helpline (107 or 147) for assistance, stating that the call centre response time is under one second and that no Kenyan should be left in the dark.
On the other hand, Duale addressed concerns regarding staff transitioning from the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHA.
“No staff will lose their jobs. Those not absorbed by SHA will retain their current pay and benefits when deployed to other public service roles,” he said.
He emphasized that SHA recruitment will adhere to meritocracy, transparency, and competitiveness, with priority given to qualified former NHIF staff.
However, the CS also issued a stern warning against forged credentials stressing, “Anyone found to have used fake certificates will face disqualification and legal action.”
Responding to questions about nursing interns who graduated in 2019 and missed placements, Duale said internship placements follow strict Public Service Commission regulations.
“This year, we launched 6,485 internship slots for 2025-2026, but I can only post 2,000 nurses due to budget constraints. The rest will wait until next year,” he clarified.
He further disclosed that 42 nursing students from 10 universities had their internship placements revoked after it emerged, they had not completed their studies.
“Integrity is non-negotiable. These students must return to complete their courses,” he said, adding that Kenyatta University led with 22 of the 42 affected students.
He revealed that the CEO of the Nursing Council of Kenya Dr. Lister Onsongo had been suspended pending investigations while audits will also extend to the implicated universities.