Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has struck a new partnership with private medical insurers a move he says will significantly expand access to affordable and quality healthcare for Kenyans.

The agreement was reached on Monday, August 18, during a high-level meeting at Afya House that brought together senior Ministry of Health officials, leaders of the Social Health Authority (SHA), and chief executives of Kenya’s top insurance companies.

Duale told reporters that the discussions produced “groundbreaking resolutions” that align private sector coverage with government health reforms and push the country closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

One of the key agreements was the creation of a Joint Anti-Fraud Action unit to crack down on widespread malpractice in the health insurance sector.

Duale noted that fraud has long undermined both insurers and patients, and the new body will improve accountability while cutting unnecessary costs.

Under the new arrangement, private insurers will extend benefits to cover services that go beyond SHA’s basic package, while also sharing the financial burden of treating chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

This co-financing model is expected to ease the cost burden on households while making long-term care more accessible.

Insurers will also be linked to SHA’s digital claims platform to speed up reimbursements, improve transparency, and reduce fraud. In addition, accreditation processes will be harmonized so that patients receive the same quality of care whether they go to public or private facilities.

During the talks, insurance CEOs urged the government to strengthen the National Health Registry and fast-track a drug pricing regulatory framework to rein in runaway medical costs.

Duale said the Ministry is fully committed to tackling these structural challenges, citing reforms that are legal, institutional, and data driven.

“This partnership brings together the Ministry of Health, SHA, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), and private insurers under a Public Private Collaborative Framework,” Duale explained.

The meeting was attended by top officials, including PS for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, DHA CEO Eng. Anthony Lenayara and KMPDC CEO Dr. David Kariuki.

On the private sector side, leaders included Jubilee Health Insurance CEO Njeri Njomo, AAR Insurance CEO Justine Kosgey, and Old Mutual CEO Japheth Ogalloh.

Duale said the new framework will be rolled out in phases but promised it will “stamp out malpractice, align systems, and ultimately make healthcare affordable for every Kenyan.”