By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Ethiopia, August 24, 2026 - Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended Kenya’s health financing reforms, saying the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) is expanding access to healthcare for millions of Kenyans.
Duale said the reforms were aimed at replacing the previous employment-based health insurance model with a more inclusive system designed to ensure that more Kenyans can access healthcare regardless of their economic status.
Speaking during a high-level ministerial dialogue on equitable and sustainable health financing on the sidelines of the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the CS said more than 32.3 million people had so far registered with SHA.
“I highlighted Kenya’s transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), which is replacing a fragmented, employment-based model with a more inclusive system that reaches millions previously left without adequate coverage,” Duale said.
The CS said more than Sh30 billion had been committed to primary healthcare, supporting more than 20 million outpatient visits involving about 15 million people.
The reforms, he added, had also supported more than 1.2 million safe deliveries and 500,000 surgical interventions.
Duale said the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund was supporting more than 50,000 cancer patients and nearly 21,000 dialysis patients.
He also highlighted the role of technology in improving the efficiency and transparency of the health system.
According to the CS, 6,424 of the country’s 6,727 health facilities—more than 95 per cent—had been digitised through the Digital Health Agency.
“SHA is fully digital, streamlining registration, pre-authorisation and claims processing,” he said.
He said the reforms were being implemented as part of President William Ruto’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“These reforms, backed by His Excellency President William Ruto’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage, demonstrate Kenya’s determination to build a health system that is equitable, sustainable and responsive,” he said.
The CS also called for greater cooperation among African countries, increased and sustained health financing, responsible use of technology and mutually beneficial international partnerships to accelerate progress towards UHC across the continent.
The ministerial sessions were hosted by WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Mohammed Janabi and moderated by Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, Director of Programme Management at the WHO Regional Office for Africa.
Duale was accompanied by Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union Galma Boru, Health Director-General Dr Patrick Amoth and other senior Ministry of Health officials.
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