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The government has been challenged to facilitate Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to enhance awareness and ease registration by Kenyans into the Social Health Authority (SHA) system.

The financially constrained CHPs who have been at the forefront of the SHA registration initiative are said to be struggling to purchase basics such as registration bundles.

According to stakeholders in Juja, Kiambu County, grassroots mobilisers have also been grappling with mobility challenges as the government failed to organise door-to-door logistics.

Speaking during a mass SHA registration drive at Ndaraca village in Theta Ward, the stakeholders led by Joseph Njogu and Edward Mucheru called on the government to consider providing special SHA registration stipends and allowances to CHPs.

“Kenyans have been suffering and going by what the government has been saying, SHA could be the ultimate solution but the registration drive is very slow. The government should address all the teething challenges enumerated by Kenyans and provide allowances to CHPs who have been actively registering Kenyans,” noted Njogu.

The stakeholders revealed that most Kenyans have delayed registering under the new system due to lack of awareness, political influence, fear of the unknown alongside the Kenyan last-minute culture.

With only about 17 million Kenyans enlisted under the new system, which has been touted as key in provision of free primary healthcare in public, contracted private and faith-based facilities, the stakeholders called on the public to massively register to enjoy the system benefits.

Ann Wanjiru and Rosemary Nyambura who successfully registered after they were sensitised expressed optimism.

“I was sensitised today and got converted. Having registered, I believe I’ll access quality and affordable healthcare services in every hospital I go to. I would also not want to go to a hospital and fail to get the recommended drugs,” stated Wanjiru.

The mass SHA registration drive at Ndaraca village was organised by Joseph Njogu, a local leader in partnership with the county government of Kiambu, local medics, CHPs and other community mobilisers.

During the exercise, at least 500 locals, including persons living with disabilities, were registered.