The Social Health Authority (SHA) has announced that it will take over the medical cover for all officers of the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), including their eligible dependents, effective April 1, 2026.
In a notice dated March 30, the SHA Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Mwangangi, noted that the current medical cover will remain valid until 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2026.
“The Social Health Authority (SHA) informs all officers of the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), and their eligible dependants, that SHA will manage their medical cover effective 12:00 a.m. on 1 April 2026 under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund,” read part of the notice.
Dr. Mwangangi added that the authority is working closely with relevant institutions and healthcare providers to ensure a smooth transition, with no interruption in access to medical care.
SHA to cover Police Officers
According to Dr. Mwangangi, any officer or dependant already admitted to a hospital will continue to receive treatment without interruption.
However, in cases where treatment is ongoing at a non-contracted facility, arrangements will be made to transfer patients to SHA-contracted facilities to ensure continuity of care.
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The CEO further advised officers to ensure that all their declared dependents under their cover are up to date to facilitate uninterrupted access to services.
Dependants can be added by dialing *147# or visiting www.sha.go.ke or www.afyayangu.go.ke.
Additionally, Mwangangi noted that the authority has designated liaison officers in all county offices and established a dedicated hotline (0800 720 601) to address enquiries.
She added that the list of liaison officers will be shared with the designated contact persons in NPS and KPS offices to ensure smooth communication and coordination.
Ruto’s Order for Police to Join SHA
This move follows President William Ruto’s directive to the NPS to transition to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), in line with the administration’s 5th push for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Kenya National Police Service previously used private insurance companies, including APA and CIC, for its officers.
The former scheme faced several limitations in offering healthcare services.
Reports indicated that coverage was often limited to specific facilities, and many officers relied on out-of-pocket payments for treatment.
The old system also imposed high operational costs and inefficiencies in claims processing.
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TSC Move Teachers From Minet to SHA, Eligible Dependants
Earlier, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) announced the mandatory transition of teachers from the Minet medical insurance plan to the Social Health Authority (SHA), which provided medical insurance for teachers for some time.
As a result, more than 400,000 teachers and their dependents migrated from the Minet Kenya medical coverage to the new SHA scheme.
Under the new scheme, teachers can cover only one declared spouse and declared child (up to five).
Children qualify up to age 21, or up to age 25 if fully dependent and enrolled in full-time post-secondary education.
A child with a disability has no age limit, provided they are fully dependent on the principal member. Additional children beyond the five can be covered at an extra premium.
