By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, June 11, 2026 - More than 31 million Kenyans have now registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has revealed, highlighting the government's efforts to accelerate the rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) despite ongoing concerns over implementation challenges.
Speaking during the presentation of the 2026/27 Budget, Mbadi said the growing number of registrations demonstrates increasing public uptake of the health insurance programme that replaced the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
"Over 31 million Kenyans have registered under the Social Health Authority," Mbadi said while outlining government achievements in the health sector.
The milestone comes as the government continues to position SHA as the backbone of Kenya's healthcare financing system, with the aim of ensuring that all citizens have access to affordable healthcare without suffering financial hardship.
Under the new framework, SHA operates through three key funds: the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. The model is intended to expand access to healthcare services while reducing out-of-pocket spending by households.
The latest registration figures suggest that a significant proportion of Kenya's population has already enrolled in the programme, although authorities continue to encourage more citizens to sign up, particularly those in the informal sector.
Mbadi said the government remains committed to strengthening healthcare financing as part of its broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which identifies health as one of the country's priority sectors.
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The Treasury has allocated substantial funding to the health sector in the 2026/27 budget, with billions of shillings earmarked for medical services, public health programmes and the continued implementation of Universal Health Coverage.
The SHA rollout has, however, faced criticism from some healthcare providers, employers and citizens who have raised concerns over contribution requirements, payment delays and access to services. Medical facilities have previously reported reimbursement challenges, while some patients have experienced difficulties navigating the transition from NHIF.
Despite these concerns, the government insists the reforms are necessary to build a more sustainable healthcare system capable of providing comprehensive coverage to all Kenyans.
The registration update comes at a time when the administration is seeking to demonstrate progress in key social programmes amid wider debates over public spending, taxation and the rising cost of living.
Health sector reforms remain central to the government's development agenda, with officials arguing that a fully operational SHA system will help reduce the financial burden of illness on households while improving access to quality healthcare services across the country.
As registration numbers continue to rise, attention is now shifting to whether the authority can translate enrollment growth into efficient service delivery and timely reimbursement for healthcare providers, two factors widely seen as critical to the long-term success of Kenya's universal health coverage ambitions.