From NHIF to SHA: Ruto’s New Strategy in Expanding Kenya’s Healthcare.
During his 2022 presidential campaign, President William Ruto emphasized the importance of improving Kenya’s healthcare system by focusing on affordability, accessibility, and efficiency.
His strategy included modernizing healthcare infrastructure, enhancing insurance schemes, and reducing the cost of medicines for average Kenyans.
A core element of his vision was achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), aimed at ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of socio-economic status, could access affordable and quality healthcare.
To fulfill this, Ruto promised to invest in healthcare infrastructure and human resources, as well as provide subsidized health insurance.
He proposed establishing a national health insurance scheme to alleviate the financial burden on low-income households, contrasting the existing National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which he argued was less effective for vulnerable populations.
Shift from NHIF to Social Health Authority (SHA)
President Ruto’s administration has implemented significant changes, including transitioning from NHIF to the Social Health Authority (SHA), branded as Taifa Care.
Since its launch on October 1, 2024, over 15.2 million Kenyans have registered with SHA, moving the country closer to fully publicly financed primary healthcare. The initiative involves 8,336 healthcare facilities, comprising 5,210 government-owned, 319 faith-based, and 2,807 private institutions.
To ensure a smooth rollout, the government dispatched 70 ICT specialists nationwide to address system challenges, such as delays in issuing login credentials for SHA services.
The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai, noted that these specialists were deployed to support facilities in accessing the new system, ensuring efficiency and continuity.
On November 18, governors urged Kenyans to remain patient with the SHA rollout. Led by the Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, they described the hurdles as normal teething problems and called for collective efforts to make SHA successful.
By this stage, 5,300 public health facilities had been registered and licensed under the program.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, during a November 25 meeting with faith-based health stakeholders, confirmed progress in implementing Taifa Care.
She reiterated the ministry’s commitment to affordable and quality healthcare for all Kenyans, achieved through strategic collaborations and the enforcement of four UHC laws.
Mpox Outbreak and Vaccine Development
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection spread through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Originating in the DR Congo, it has spread to various countries, including Kenya, which recorded 17 confirmed cases, as stated by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa.
By October 14, Kenya’s first Mpox death was reported, with 13 confirmed cases across multiple counties. Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni revealed that 238 samples had been tested, with 13 positives. Counties such as Nakuru, Kajiado, and Bungoma were among those affected.
In response, a US-based pharmaceutical firm partnered with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) to develop a vaccine. Tonix Pharmaceuticals announced plans for Phase I clinical trials of TNX-801 in Kenya, focusing on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
Tonix CEO Seth Lederman highlighted the urgent need for a single-dose vaccine aligned with WHO’s standards. Kemri Director General Elijah Songok acknowledged the collaboration’s importance in addressing global health threats.
In November, Kenya became one of nine African countries allocated Mpox vaccine doses by Gavi, the EU, and the US. The donation totaled 899,000 doses, targeting approximately 1.4 million individuals at risk by the end of 2024.
The Ministry of Health also established a National Taskforce on Mpox and Marburg Virus Disease to coordinate responses, train healthcare workers, and set up treatment units.
Memoranda of Understanding in the Health Sector
On November 26, the Kenyan government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to operationalize IVI’s AVEC Africa project office in Kenya.
This initiative aims to accelerate vaccine research, development, and manufacturing across Africa by enhancing existing institutions and expertise.
Kenya’s commitment to this initiative was solidified in June 2024, when President Ruto raised Kenya’s flag at IVI’s headquarters in Seoul after the country became a State Party of IVI.
Additionally, Liverpool Voluntary Counseling and Testing (LVCT) Health signed an MoU with Kiambu County in June 2024 to improve HIV healthcare. This collaboration seeks to strengthen local health systems and accelerate progress toward epidemic control through capacity building and resource mobilization.
In January 2024, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defense signed an MoU to enhance national emergency response capabilities. This agreement covered research partnerships, resource sharing, personnel exchange programs, and preparedness for emergencies.
The collaboration also emphasized climate change research and satellite surveillance as early warning systems for public health crises, reflecting a comprehensive approach to human health and security.
From NHIF to SHA: Ruto’s New Strategy in Expanding Kenya’s Healthcare.
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