All Kenyans will be required to register for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), as per the Social Health Insurance (SHI) Act of 2023, starting January 2024.
According to the government, this requirement aims to ensure that every resident in Kenya can access health services per the provisions of the Act.
“Within ninety days upon the coming into force of these Regulations, every person resident in Kenya shall apply for registration to the Authority as a member of the Social Health Insurance Fund,” the Act states.
Recently, on Friday, January 19, the government received a reprieve as the Court of Appeal lifted High Court orders that had previously barred the implementation of the Act.
With the Ministry of Health now granted the go-ahead, SHIF is set to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Notably, unlike NHIF, which did not enforce mandatory registration for non-salaried Kenyans, SHIF will now be mandatory for all Kenyans.
President Ruto on Sunday, January 21, stated that the government would cover monthly SHIF contributions for Kenyans from vulnerable households.
