The government has clarified its plans to deduct payments to the Social Health Authority (SHA) directly from the M-Pesa mobile wallets of Kenyans who fail to make the required contributions.
This clarification follows a statement by Senior Advisor in the Council of Economic Advisors to the President Moses Kuria announced on Wednesday, April 2, that the government had launched a program for daily deductions of small amounts from mobile money to fund SHA.
However, while speaking in Nandi County during the Taifa Care Rollout event, Kuria emphasized that the deductions would be voluntary.
Kuria issues clarification
He explained that the program aims to support Kenyans who cannot afford the monthly Ksh500 contribution, adding that it follows a “lipa mdogo mdogo” model, where the government will partner with mobile money providers like M-Pesa to facilitate the deductions.
“Not those who refuse to pay. We are not saying for people refusing to pay. We are saying people who say that they cannot afford. Someone will say I don’t know the next time I am going to be admitted at Kapsabet hospital, let me have some Ksh20, Ksh30 deducted willingly. It’s not a matter of refusing,” he said.
“It is people who we have gotten to the next step to assist them have that process because ultimately everyone must contribute.”
Also Read: Health CS Announces Enhanced SHA Packages for Various Services
At the same time, Kuria said that Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and boda boda riders who will help enroll the public for the SHA program will be rewarded.
The Senior Presidential Economic Council advisor said that CHPs and any member of the boda boda fraternity who will help other Kenyans join and start making payments to SHA will be awarded a Ksh20 commission.
“Every CHP or Boda Boda that assists Members to join SHA and start making payments to get Ksh20 commission,” Kuria said.
More than 20 million Kenyans registered with SHA
According to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, 20.8 million Kenyans have been registered with SHA, along with 5.7 million of their dependents.
Also Read: Uhuru Era CAS Mercy Mwangangi Among Candidates Shortlisted for SHA CEO Job
CS Duale while speaking during the official handover ceremony at Afya House following his deployment to the Ministry of Health said the top five counties with the highest registration rates include Mombasa, Bomet, Nyeri, Elgeyo Marakwet and Kirinyaga.
According to the Ministry, SHA has already settled claims amounting to Sh24 billion, with an additional Sh2.1 billion paid under the primary health care fund. It noted that this has facilitated expanded access to social health insurance, covering 13 million additional Kenyans.
In terms of human resources for health, the CS outlined several initiatives to enhance the healthcare workforce.
Duale said the Ministry has already provided over 100,000 kits, medicines, and supplies to 107,831 Community Health Promoters (CHPs), as well as smartphones for improved service delivery through the Electronic Community Health Information System (e-CHIS).
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