DP Kindiki: Government Resolving SHA Challenges to Achieve Universal Health Coverage
KASS Digital
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki says the national government is working to address initial challenges facing the Social Health Authority (SHA) so it can serve as an effective tool in delivering universal health coverage to all Kenyans.
Speaking at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, during a meeting with MPs from Northern Kenya, Prof. Kindiki emphasized that the government under President William Ruto’s leadership is determined to ensure every Kenyan is registered under SHA.
“We are on course with our health projects. Half of Kenya now has medical cover. I think Waziri Duale has put tremendous energy into the ministry. As of this morning, 25.4 million Kenyans have a card,”
Kindiki said. “Every day between 50,000 and 60,000 people are enrolling, and on weekends about 30,000 to 40,000 join. My take is that by the time we go to the elections, we will have over 35 million Kenyans covered.”
The Deputy President urged all unregistered Kenyans to take advantage of the ongoing nationwide registration exercise.
“President Ruto made universal health care a priority in his first year, despite the politics, resistance, opposition, litigation, and noise. We persevered, and reaching 25 million people is a good milestone. Our plan is to expand coverage to 40 million within two years,” he stated.
Prof. Kindiki further noted that the government’s focus has now shifted to strengthening the health system through two key measures: equipping lower-level hospitals with diagnostic equipment and streamlining the medical supply chain.
The newly introduced direct delivery system for medical supplies, he said, bypasses county bureaucracies to ensure that hospitals receive what they need quickly and efficiently.
