The Ministry of Health (MoH) has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to boost the Social Health Authority (SHA) revenue collection, targeting Ksh.102 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. In submissions to the Senate Health Committee, Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa disclosed that SHA’s revenue budget for the new financial year stands at Ksh.101,749,543,800.
Despite the rollout of SHA contributions last October, registration and remittance levels remain below government expectations. To address this, the ministry will deploy SHA compliance officers to conduct “random employer audits” and track payroll deductions. Additionally, MoH aims to integrate SHA contributions into payroll systems such as Oracle and QuickBooks, ensuring automated deductions for employees.
To enhance compliance, MoH will issue directives linking SHA contributions with pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) deductions, compelling employers to adhere to remittance requirements. Moreover, SHA registration will be interconnected with key government agencies, including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Social Security Fund (NSSF), National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Huduma Namba, and the National Registration Bureau (NRB). This measure is designed to streamline member identification and ensure accountability.
Barasa outlined additional strategies such as employer sensitization programs, SHA compliance updates through corporate emails, and engagement via LinkedIn, webinars, and industry roundtables. Financial penalties will be imposed on employers who fail to comply, further reinforcing the ministry’s commitment to boosting contributions.
For informal sector workers, the government plans localized community engagement, mass awareness campaigns, mobile-based registration, and partnerships with trade unions and co-operatives. Flexible payment models and mobile banking options like M-Pesa will be introduced to ease contributions.
Furthermore, MoH will leverage digital and influencer marketing to promote SHA registration. Incentives for early adopters and targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups, including the elderly and low-income earners, will be introduced to encourage participation.
Since its inception in October, SHA has collected Ksh.36.8 billion, with Ksh.31.2 billion attributed to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). However, concerns persist over the scheme’s limited benefits and access challenges faced by registered members, fueling public skepticism. The success of these new measures will be critical in ensuring the scheme’s sustainability and effectiveness in delivering universal healthcare to Kenyans.
