Ruto Unveils Free Medical Coverage for 2.2M Vulnerable Kenyans Under SHA

Nairobi, Kenya — 2025-09-19 15:00 EAT. President William Ruto has launched a major healthcare initiative to provide free medical coverage to over 2.2 million vulnerable Kenyans, funded through government allocations and private donations, in a move set to transform access to health services nationwide.

The Latest

Speaking at State House Nairobi, President Ruto revealed that an anonymous philanthropist donated KSh900 millionto pay premiums for 113,637 households, ensuring they receive comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care, including cancer treatment and dialysis.

“No Kenyan should be denied healthcare because of poverty,” Ruto declared, calling on governors, MPs, and private donors to contribute further resources to expand the programme.

Context & Background

The Social Health Authority (SHA) was launched earlier this year as part of Kenya’s shift toward universal health coverage (UHC) under the government’s bottom-up economic model. The sponsorship programme targets low-income families who often face catastrophic healthcare costs and lack insurance protection

So far:

• 2.2M Kenyans to benefit under the current phase

• KSh900M private funding already secured

• Counties & constituencies pledging additional allocations for 2025–26

Law, Policy & Implementation

• Social Health Insurance Act: Provides legal basis for SHA operations

• County Role: Governors pledging part of equitable share budgets

• MP Role: CDF allocations to supplement coverage for rural households

• Next Step: Health officials to map vulnerable families and enlist hospitals under the scheme

Voices & Reactions

• President William Ruto:

  “This programme will cover expensive treatments like cancer care and dialysis so that no family sells land to pay hospital bills.”

• Governors’ Council Chair Ahmed Abdullahi:

  “Counties will align budgets to support this noble cause and strengthen referral hospitals.”

• Health Economist Dr. Jane Naliaka:

  “Public–private partnerships in healthcare financing are critical to achieving UHC in resource-constrained settings.”

Evidence & Data Box

• Beneficiaries: 2.2M citizens

• Private funding: KSh900M donation = 113,637 households covered

• Timeline: Rollout begins Q4 2025, scaling through 2026

• Cost per household: Approx. KSh7,900 annual premium

Risks & Implications

• Healthcare capacity: Risk of overwhelming public hospitals without parallel investment in infrastructure

• Funding gaps: Sustainability depends on county budgets & continued donor support

• Equity concerns: Need transparent criteria for selecting beneficiaries

What We Don’t Know

• How many counties will allocate funds in the 2025/26 budgets

• Whether private insurers will be engaged for specialised services

• Long-term funding model beyond initial donations

Timeline

• 2025-09-18: KSh900M donation announced at State House

• 2025-Q4: Beneficiary registration begins

• 2026: Full integration into SHA’s universal health coverage framework

What to Watch

• Parliamentary budget debates on SHA allocations

• Private sector partnerships with pharmaceutical firms & diagnostic centres

• Impact evaluation after first year of implementation