President William Ruto has announced a new payment model for Kenyans to remit their annual Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) contributions in flexible instalments.
The new approach, known as Lipa SHA pole pole or Lipa SHA mos mos, aims to make health insurance more accessible for informal sector workers who often struggle to pay lump-sum premiums, Ruto said.
Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations at Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, the President highlighted the transformative potential of the initiative in promoting universal health coverage.
"We are introducing an innovative and inclusive payment solution called Lipa SHA pole pole or Lipa SHA mos mos. This initiative will enable Kenyans to remit their annual SHA contribution through instalments, whether monthly, weekly, or daily," President Ruto said.
He emphasised that the new system would address long-standing challenges of irregular payments, especially among informal workers, by offering a practical solution that fits their needs.
He noted that the Lipa SHA pole pole initiative is the result of a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), mobile network operators, and financial institutions under the Hustler Fund framework.
Ruto underscored that the move will empower every Kenyan to secure health coverage without financial strain.
He explained that by adopting a pay-as-you-go approach, the government aims to promote continuity of coverage and prevent families from being plunged into poverty due to health-related expenses.
“We have designed a simple and user-friendly system that every Kenyan can access by dialling 147# and following the prompts to start their contributions immediately,” he added.
He said the move will ensure families are not forced to choose between essential needs and health insurance.
President Ruto further elaborated that under the model, the national government will collaborate closely with county governments to enhance the availability and distribution of critical medical equipment.
He emphasised that this partnership aims to ensure that every county can secure the equipment they need to effectively deliver healthcare services under the Social Health Insurance Fund.
He explained that the government would engage directly with medical equipment manufacturers and suppliers to deploy necessary equipment based on county-specific needs.
"We will work together with county governments to assess and prioritise the medical equipment required to serve their communities effectively," Ruto stated.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of Kenya’s ambitious push towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a pillar of the country’s health policy reforms in recent years.
