The government is set to introduce the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in March of this year, as announced by Health Cabinet Secretary Wafula Nakhumicha during an interview with a local media station.
Nakhumicha indicated that all necessary systems were in place to phase out the longstanding National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and transition Kenyans to SHIF.
The Health Cabinet Secretary revealed that her ministry was awaiting approval for the Act’s regulations. Once approved, a due process would be followed, initiating the registration of individuals into SHIF in March, with contributions expected in the same month.
“Our projection as the ministry is that by March 1, 2023, we should be able to start registration of everybody into the Social Health Authority. If we finish earlier, we will start early. Contribution will be the same month.”
The Ministry plans to commence the public participation process for the new Act in February, followed by the parliamentary process to establish it as law. This will be followed by a review by the Attorney General before being gazetted into law. Nakhumicha emphasized the adherence to a prescribed 14-day minimum period for public participation.
The CS noted that global experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) supported the project, and Means Testing had been developed to determine the income levels for individuals within a family unit.
“We have done the means testing for everyone. We have received support from the WHO to develop the Means Testing criteria. Once the house has already been subjected to means testing, we already know the level of income, so it doesn’t mean that we are starting from scratch.”
The announcement by CS Nakhumicha follows a Court of Appeal ruling that lifted orders issued by the High Court, suspending the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Act. Justices Patrick Kiage, Pauline Nyamweya, and Grace Ngenye ruled that the suspension of the new health fund rollout posed a real and present danger to the health rights of countless citizens. They emphasized the need to avoid confusion, a gap, and potential harm to citizens pending the appeal’s hearing and determination.
