President William Ruto has unveiled a health insurance payment plan dubbed “Lipa SHA Pole Pole”, aimed at easing the burden of annual premium payments for Kenyans in the informal sector.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations held in Homa Bay County, Ruto said the initiative will allow contributors to the Social Health Authority (SHA) to pay their premiums in instalments, rather than in one lump sum.
“To address persistent challenges such as irregular premium payments, especially among the informal sector, the government of Kenya is introducing an inclusive payment solution known as Lipa SHA Pole Pole,” Ruto announced.
The president emphasised that the new scheme is part of broader reforms to enhance access to universal health coverage, particularly for Kenyans who do not have stable monthly incomes.
“Word is beginning to get out throughout the nation that SHA is working. Which means that the transition challenges and the teething problems are now behind us, and the UHC is now serving Kenyans and leaving no one behind,” Ruto added.
Ruto on SHA Lipa Pole Pole
Ruto said the government has paid 43 billion shillings in claims to health facilities over the past eight months, with 4.5 million Kenyans receiving fully covered treatment under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
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“Every registered Kenyan can access care in public and SHA-accredited facilities at no cost,” Ruto said.
He noted that SHA is settling payments promptly and that 1.4 million informal sector households have successfully enrolled in the program.
“Lipa SHA Pole Pole has been made possible through a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Health, mobile network operators, financial institutions and MSEMS, through the Hustler Fund,” he added.
Ruto emphasized that the system is simple and accessible to citizens.
“Citizens can dial *147# and follow the prompts to enroll and begin their contributions immediately,” he said.
Madaraka Day Speech Takeaways
President William Ruto said Kenya’s economy has grown steadily since August 2022, averaging 5% annually, surpassing both the global average of 3.3% and the regional average of 3.8%.
Citing International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections, Ruto noted that Kenya’s gross domestic product is expected to reach $132 billion (KSh17 trillion), making it the largest economy in the region and the sixth largest in Africa.
He said inflation has dropped significantly from 9.6% in October 2022 to 3.8% in May 2025, well below the government’s 5% target.
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Meanwhile, the Kenyan shilling has strengthened by 20%, appreciating from KSh162 to KSh129 against the U.S. dollar, one of the strongest performances globally, he added.
He also explained on monetary policy changes, noting that the Central Bank of Kenya has lowered the benchmark lending rate from 13% to 10%, easing borrowing costs and stimulating private sector growth.
Additionally, Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves have grown to $10 billion, extending import cover from 2.5 to four months.
“Through strategic investments in agriculture, we are accelerating both growth and resilience in the sector,” Ruto said.
He credited fertilizer subsidies with increasing food production by 50% and said milk farmers are now earning KSh50 per liter, up from KSh35.
Coffee farmers, he added, are receiving up to KSh150 per kilogram, a significant rise from an average of KSh65.
Tea earnings also improved, growing from KSh138 billion in 2022 to KSh215 billion in 2024.
Sugar production surged from 490,000 metric tonnes in 2023 to 815,000 metric tonnes in 2024, reducing sugar imports by 70% and raising farmers’ earnings from KSh50 billion to KSh90 billion, according to Ruto.
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