President William Ruto on Friday launched the Social Health Authority (SHA) Sponsorship Programme at State House, Nairobi, marking a key step in providing accessible medical care for the nation’s most vulnerable households.
The initiative will fully cover premiums for 558,000 households, reaching an estimated 2.2 million Kenyans, at a projected cost of Sh4.4 billion.
The programme, established under the new SHA framework that replaces the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), allows beneficiaries to receive services at accredited public and private hospitals.
These include basic outpatient consultations, health screenings, malaria testing, and weighing, as well as advanced procedures such as dialysis, kidney transplants, accident-related surgeries, and cancer treatment. Coverage will pay up to Sh 1.12 million for kidney transplants and Sh 550,000 for breast, cervical, and prostate cancer care.
“This modern framework ensures that every Kenyan, especially the most vulnerable, can access quality health care services when they need them most,” President Ruto said. “We have made it possible under the new social health insurance for beneficiaries to benefit instantly on registration.”
Ruto highlighted that the sponsorship programme is a key pillar in Kenya’s drive toward Universal Health Coverage.
“No Kenyan should be denied treatment because of inability to pay. This programme guarantees dignity, equity and fairness in our health care system,” he stated.
The Head of State also called on county governments, Members of Parliament, philanthropists, and development partners to support more households under the scheme. He disclosed that an anonymous donor had already committed to sponsoring over 113,000 Kenyans.
Officials confirmed that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour & Social Protection have compiled a database of beneficiaries, allowing them to access services immediately at participating hospitals.
The launch of the SHA Sponsorship Programme represents a landmark achievement in the government’s health sector reforms, demonstrating a strong commitment to making health care a right rather than a privilege for all citizens.
