By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
Kenya, 5 May 2026 - The Social Health Authority (SHA) has disbursed KSh 284.3 billion to clear a backlog of 160 last-expense claims, each valued at KSh 300,000, with payments set for disbursement promptly, the government spokesperson has said.
Isaack Mwaura said in just three years, health insurance coverage has expanded from fewer than 8 million Kenyans to nearly 30.8 million under the Social Health Authority (SHA), covering approximately 65% of the population from 16% under the now defunct NHIF.
This, the Government spokesperson said, is a huge increase of 49% coverage.
He said County-level committees, comprising representatives from SHA, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and unions, will regularly monitor service delivery and address any issues.
“The Government is pleased to announce significant progress in the health sector through bold reforms and decisive actions,” he said.
He said the Government remains committed to ensuring every Kenyan benefits from quality and affordable healthcare.
Mwaura said the Social Health Authority, together with the Ministry of Health and teachers’ unions, have reached a significant agreement to improve medical coverage for nearly 350,000 public school teachers.
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“This agreement eliminates co-payments by removing system configurations that caused out-of-pocket expenses, ensuring contracted health facilities no longer charge teachers at the point of service,” he noted.
He added that it also expands healthcare benefits by providing access to specialized treatments abroad in Turkey, and India, as well as locally.
New services such as In- Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) he said have been added to support teachers’ health needs, particularly addressing infertility challenges.
Additionally, he said SHA is finalising tariff negotiations with healthcare providers nationwide to standardize services and improve efficiency. These initiatives he explained demonstrate the Government’s commitment to providing accessible, comprehensive and quality healthcare to educators.