Govt confirms April SHA enrollment for police and prison officers
By Aloys Michael, January 25, 2026Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has confirmed that beginning in April, all disciplined officers serving under the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Prisons Service will be automatically enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance scheme.
Speaking on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Garissa County, Duale noted that the government is building on the success achieved following the enrolment of teachers into the scheme, which has proved both effective and beneficial for the sector.
“Beginning April 1, our security personnel, including members of the police and Kenya Prisons Service, will be enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, providing them and their dependents with comprehensive medical cover at any facility nationwide, whether private, public, or faith-based,” the CS declared.
“Prior to introducing teachers into the SHA programme, they could only access about 800 facilities. With SHA, they now have access to over 9,000 health facilities.”
The directive, issued by President William Ruto, is part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya.
On January 19, 2026, following President Ruto’s directive, CS Duale convened a high-level meeting with representatives from the NPS, KPS, and SHA to advance the transition of security personnel to the state-run Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The meeting agreed to constitute a multi-agency technical team drawn from the police, prisons, and the Social Health Authority (SHA) to conclude benefit structures, service delivery mechanisms, and transition frameworks, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted migration.
The CS said that the initiative aligns with the 5th Administration’s UHC agenda, which seeks to provide equitable, sustainable, and high-quality healthcare to all Kenyans.
Duale said the move mirrors the recent transfer of teachers from a privately administered medical scheme to the government-managed SHA on December 1, 2025, following extended consultations between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and teachers’ unions, including KNUT and KUPPET, which had initially expressed reservations about the transition.
After prolonged consultations, a consensus was ultimately achieved, paving the way for the enrolment of teachers into SHA and marking a key milestone in the reform of public sector healthcare.
Implemented under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, the mandatory transition extends coverage to more than 400,000 teachers, granting access to over 9,000 hospitals and enhanced annual inpatient limits ranging between Ksh1 million and Ksh3 million.