Kericho County has registered 586,568 residents under the Social Health Authority (SHA), representing about 65 per cent coverage against a target of 901,777, officials have announced.
Senior Registration and Complaints Officer Leonard Rono said the County still needs to enrol an additional 35 per cent of its population to achieve universal coverage, urging stakeholders to intensify mobilization and public sensitization efforts.
Rono was presenting a Status Report on SHA during a County service delivery meeting held at the County Commissioner’s Boardroom in Kericho and Chaired by County Commissioner, Jeremiah Mwai Gicheru and attended by Heads of National government departments.
He described SHA as a relatively new institution established under the Social Health Insurance Act No. 16 of 2023, to replace the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) with a mandate to manage public health insurance and spearhead the implementation of universal health coverage.
“SHA is still a new baby and we are continuously improving our services. We welcome feedback from all stakeholders to help us serve Kenyans better,” said Rono.
He explained that SHA operates three core funds, including the Primary Health Care Fund, which is fully financed by the Government and accessible upon registration, the Social Health Insurance Fund supported through member contributions, and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund that caters to critical care services.
Rono noted that the Universal Health Coverage programme, also known as Taifa Care, is designed to ensure all Kenyans access affordable, quality healthcare regardless of income levels, geographical location or social status. He said the programme also aims to shield households from financial hardship associated with illness, noting that many families often face economic strain when seeking treatment.
On service delivery, Rono outlined a six-tier healthcare system under SHA, starting with community health services at the grassroots level, followed by primary care in dispensaries and health centres, secondary care in county hospitals, and specialized treatment in national referral facilities.
He added that the Authority has strengthened the health system by increasing healthcare personnel, embracing digital health records and adopting technology such as artificial intelligence to improve claims management.
Rono said registration is ongoing through various channels, including a USSD code for those without internet access, online platforms for digital users, and assisted registration through community health promoters and health facilities.
He emphasized that applicants must provide key documents such as national identification cards, registered phone numbers and dependant details, while provisions have been made to accommodate special groups.
In particular, he highlighted efforts to register teenage mothers, noting that SHA issues temporary identification numbers to facilitate their enrolment alongside their newborns. “In Kericho, we have so far registered 767 teenage mothers, but we believe the number is higher and we are calling on stakeholders to help identify and register them,” he said.
Nationally, Rono reported that SHA has registered over 30.3 million members and 12.5 million dependants, with an average registration age of 31 years, signalling significant uptake of the programme.
He added that Kericho is ranked among the top ten counties in registration performance, with Mombasa leading at 79.7 per cent, followed by Bomet in second position and then Elgeyo Marakwet, placing Kericho at position 10 nationally.
However, he raised concern over low contribution rates, particularly among informal sector workers, noting that less than 10 million out of over 30 million registered members are actively contributing to the scheme.
He warned that irregular contributions threaten the sustainability of the fund, as some members only remit payments when they fall sick, thereby straining the system.
Rono called on administrators, community leaders and other stakeholders to support awareness campaigns through public forums such as public barazas by the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) to boost both registration and regular contributions.
He said increased collaboration among government agencies and community structures will be key in ensuring that all eligible residents are enrolled and that the programme achieves its goal of delivering accessible and affordable healthcare to every Kenyan.
Meanwhile, Kericho County Commissioner has called on government departments to work together collaboratively in service delivery to ensure that all national programs and projects are implemented and completed in time.
The CC urged departmental heads to share resources in fast-tracking government programmes such as issuance of national ID Cards, and ensuring that those who have registered for the documents collect them.
Mr Gicheru hailed the cordial working relations among government officers in Kericho and singled out Affordable Housing Program, and Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) Markets as some of landmark development projects that had been successfully implemented in the region.
by Dominic Cheres
