All Kenyans have been given 90 days to register for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), as mandated by the Social Health Insurance (SHI) Act 2023.
The Act requires mandatory registration for every individual residing in Kenya to ensure access to health services in accordance with its provisions.
“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 read in part.
According to the act this regulation aims to streamline the process of healthcare access for residents. On January 19, the Court of Appeal lifted High Court orders that had previously hindered the implementation of the Act, providing a green light for the Ministry of Health to proceed.
The implementation of SHIF is set to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), with the key distinction that SHIF covers every Kenyan, unlike NHIF, which did not require mandatory registration for non-salaried individuals.
President William Ruto announced on January 21 that citizens from vulnerable households would have their monthly contributions covered by the government.
