By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
Kenya, June 09, 2026 - A total of 167 Level II health facilities across Turkana County have received biometric registration and authentication devices in a major push to improve patient identification and healthcare efficiency.
County officials said the rollout marks a key milestone in the transition to Taifa Care and the strengthening of Social Health Authority (SHA) claims processing.
The initiative, supported by the Digital Health Agency (DHA) and Safaricom PLC, aims to reduce identity theft and impersonation, prevent duplicate or fraudulent enrolments, and ensure healthcare services are accessed only by rightful beneficiaries.
Officials said the devices will enhance patient identification, improve service delivery and strengthen accountability within the healthcare system.
Previously, health facilities relied on One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to verify patients seeking services. With the introduction of the biometric system, patient authentication, care management and follow-up processes are expected to become faster, more secure and more efficient.
Chief Officer for Medical Services Dr Gilchrist Lokoel welcomed the transition, saying the technology would significantly improve the integrity of healthcare services.
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“The technology will help reduce fraud by ensuring healthcare funds are utilized only by genuine beneficiaries, thereby safeguarding the integrity and sustainability of Taifa Care,” he said.
Dr Lokoel added that the devices would also reduce paperwork and minimize manual data-entry errors, helping cut waiting times during patient registration.
“The biometric system uniquely links a patient’s physical identity, such as fingerprints, to their health identification records, eliminating the risk of unauthorized sharing of pre-authorization approval codes and ensuring that services are accessed only by registered beneficiaries,” he added.
County ICT Officer Eliud Eyangan said the rollout is expected to strengthen digital health systems and improve patient experience in the implementation of Taifa Care.
The Turkana County Government said it remains committed to delivering accessible, quality and accountable healthcare services to residents through the adoption of digital health technologies.