The government’s bold move to overhaul Kenya’s healthcare system through the Social Health Authority (SHA) is already bearing fruit, with over Ksh 21.8 billion in hospital bills cleared for Kenyans since the launch of TaifaCare in October 2024.
The latest Situation Room report from the SHA Secretariat, dated April 13, 2025 paints a promising picture: the government’s health financing reforms are not just a policy shift, but a practical solution easing the financial burden on ordinary Kenyans.
The biggest share of the payments, Ksh 13.6 billion, has gone towards surgical procedures, while maternity and newborn care services account for another Ksh 5 billion, a significant boost to maternal health outcomes across the country.
Other medical packages covered include orthopedic surgeries (Ksh4.1 billion), renal care (Ksh3.6 billion), hematology and oncology (Ksh3 billion), general surgeries (Ksh2.9 billion), and obstetrical and gynaecological surgeries (Ksh1.5 billion), a clear indication of the government’s commitment to holistic health support for all citizens.
Since its rollout, SHA has not only replaced the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) but has already surpassed it in scale, registering over 21.3 million members, compared to NHIF’s 14 million principal members accumulated since its establishment in 1966.
Speaking during a live television show, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale reaffirmed the government’s resolve to hit 40 million registered beneficiaries by the end of the year.
“We are fixing healthcare. This will be the biggest achievement and signature project of President Ruto. We are at about 60 per cent now, it is picking up, and I can show you the numbers,” Duale stated.
To steer this flagship reform to full maturity, the Cabinet Secretary also announced the appointment of Dr Mercy Mwangangi, the former Health CAS known for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the new SHA Chief Executive Officer.
On April 12 alone, 19,700 new members were registered, fueled by aggressive public awareness campaigns jointly led by the national government and county governments.
Interestingly, it is the youth who are leading the registration drive and uptake, with an average age of 34 years.
Women are slightly ahead of men in enrolment, 50.4 per cent versus 47.7 per cent, and the average monthly contribution is Ksh. 590, marking a 47.9 per cent uptake of the set contributions.
But what stands out is the performance of some counties in taking up the TaifaCare initiative with vigour. Mombasa leads the pack, having registered 56.1 per cent of its target population. Bomet (48.7%), Nyeri (47.8%), Elgeyo Marakwet (46.2%), and Kirinyaga (45.2%) follow closely, driven by robust county-level coordination, community engagement, Community Health Promoters and health volunteer networks.
Conversely, some counties are lagging behind: Marsabit (13.5%), Turkana (13.3%), Garissa (13.0%), West Pokot (12.7%), and Samburu (11.0%), underscoring the need for stronger outreach and investment in health awareness.
As TaifaCare picks up momentum, it is clear that the government’s investment in health is translating into real impact, saving lives, restoring dignity to families, and laying the foundation for Universal Health Coverage.
The question now is: what are the top-performing counties doing right, and how can the rest of the country replicate their success?
