Vihiga County has made history by becoming the first devolved unit in Kenya to enroll its employees into the Public Officers Medical Scheme (POMS) under the Social Health Authority (SHA), marking a major step forward in the country’s journey toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The agreement was signed on September 15, 2025, between the Ministry of Health and the Vihiga County Government.
The deal will see more than 3,032 county employees receive comprehensive medical cover starting October 1, 2025.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale hailed the move as a breakthrough under the government's Taifa Care Model.
“This is a significant milestone in actualizing people-centered healthcare and ensuring that public officers receive the quality medical support they need,” he said.
In addition to the medical scheme contract, Duale also oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the SHA, the Ministry of Health, and the County Government of Vihiga.
The MoU aims to deepen collaboration in strengthening access to affordable, equitable, and quality health services for residents of Vihiga and beyond.
A Joint Implementation Committee will be established to oversee the rollout of the program and monitor its impact on health outcomes within the county.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that the Ministry is taking firm measures to protect public health funds and ensure transparency.
“We are anchoring our reforms on digitization, including biometric registration, hospital management information systems (HMIS), and real-time patient tracking. These measures will help prevent fraud and raise professional standards in public healthcare facilities,” he added.
CS Duale also announced plans to enhance access to antenatal care, safe delivery (including caesarean procedures), and postnatal services, emphasising the government’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
