Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenyan government will fully sponsor 1.5 million vulnerable citizens to join the new national health insurance scheme, President William Ruto announced on September 2. The state will cover the annual registration cost for these selected households under the recently launched Social Health Authority (SHA) program, ensuring they can access free medical services. “We have identified 1.5 million Kenyans who cannot afford the SHA registration fee,” said Dennis Itumbi, a senior official in the President’s office, in a statement. “The government will cover the cost for all of them and payment mechanisms will begin next week.” Enrolling in SHA is free, but members must contribute Ksh 300 per month (Ksh 3,600 yearly) to receive benefits – an amount now waived for the poorest families under this directive.

The move comes as part of President Ruto’s push for universal health coverage, following the overhaul of the old National Hospital Insurance Fund into the SHA this year. By subsidizing premiums for the most vulnerable, the government aims to leave no one behind as it rolls out the compulsory health scheme funded by a 2.75% payroll levy. Ruto noted that strict vetting was used to identify the beneficiaries, leveraging what he called “equitable contributions” from wealthier Kenyans to support those in need. Earlier in the week, the President had directed all Level 1 to 4 public hospitals to provide free treatment to any Kenyan already registered with the SHA, warning facilities not to charge extra fees. He encouraged citizens to report any violations via a government hotline, signaling a tough stance on facilities that try to fleece patients.

Health experts lauded the sponsorship initiative as a major step towards truly inclusive healthcare. With the government footing the bill, families living in extreme poverty will gain access to essential services without the barrier of cost. The Social Health Authority has begun scaling up across the country, and officials say funds are in place to sustain the subsidies thanks to higher-than-expected compliance with the new health levy. The ultimate goal, officials add, is to have every Kenyan covered and able to receive treatment regardless of their income status – a promise that this latest announcement brings closer to reality.