Inside Ruto’s plan to register inmates for SHA
By Aloys Michael, December 3, 2025As part of the government’s move to bolster the health services in the county, President William Ruto has declared that all inmates should be registered for the Social Health Authority (SHA).
This comes even as critics continue to raise concerns over the delay by the government to hasten the listing of the inmates to benefit from the health service.
On September 28, 2025, Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco announced that the government will place all inmates under the Social Health Authority (SHA) by the end of the year in a bid to curb the spread of disease in correctional facilities.
Beacco noted that sexual offenders account for nearly 40 per cent of the prison population; hence, the need for urgent action.
She said the high number of inmates jailed for sexual offences has fuelled overcrowding and created health challenges within the prison system.
“Almost 40 per cent of the problems I have are due to sexual offences, rape, sodomy, and gender-based violence,” she said, adding that Meru alone hosts nearly 1,000 such offenders.
“My prisons are overcrowded and overfilled, and this brings other problems.”
The PS warned that the congestion and high concentration of offenders have worsened the spread of communicable diseases such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV, while straining already limited medical resources.
“The highest prevalence of HIV incidences is here in Meru. I don’t have money for medicines,” she said.
She added that enrolling inmates in SHA would ensure continuous access to treatment and improve disease management across facilities.
But on his part, the Head of State, while addressing the Jukwaa la Usalama at State House on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, said the expenses will be covered by the State.
“All inmates must be enrolled in SHA, and the government will cover the cost,” Ruto declared.
According to Ruto, the exercise of registering inmates across the country is an ongoing exercise that started in May, and so far, 10,000 registered inmates are assured of quality healthcare as they target to register all 60,000 inmates in the country.
He emphasised the importance of ensuring all Kenyans register for SHA and get affordable and quality healthcare, including all inmates in prison and probation centres, who also have a right to quality healthcare as stated in the constitution.
Vulnerable groups
In September 2025, Ruto announced that the government would cover the cost of SHA services for 2.2 million Kenyans at no charge.
“Today, I want to say that the government will pay for the SHA cover for 2.2 million Kenyans for free. As you leave here, you will be assured that SHA will cover you,” Ruto said.
Ruto emphasised that the initiative is designed to promote equality and ensure that all Kenyans have access to the highest standard of healthcare.
“Health is a right for every citizen, and this initiative ensures that no Kenyan is left behind,” President Ruto said.
The government confirmed that 558,000 households, equivalent to 2.2 million individuals, will benefit from the SHA cover.