The Kenya Kwanza government will fully operationalise a flexible payment method for the Social Health Authority, with the Ministry of Health touting the Lipa SHA Pole Pole model.

President William Ruto announced this move after receiving a brief on the implementation of our universal health coverage programme on Monday, July 6, 2026.

According to President Ruto, the Lipa SHA Pole Pole model will ensure no Kenyan is left behind in his universal health coverage programme, which received a significant share of the 2026/27 budgetary allocation.

“To ensure no one is left behind, we agreed on the implementation of flexible payment methods, including initiatives such as Lipa SHA Pole Pole, in our effort to ensure that all Kenyans register with and make access to healthcare truly universal,” Ruto’s statement read in part.

Lipa SHA Pole Pole is a transformative model under the Social Health Authority (SHA) designed to accelerate the rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Kenya.

The initiative allows Kenyans in the informal sector to pay for their SHA health insurance cover through affordable and flexible instalments, ensuring access to essential healthcare without financial hardship.

Integrating SHA into telcos

Besides the operationalisation of Lipa SHA Pole Pole, the head of state further confirmed plans to integrate SHA into the telecommunication platforms.

Ruto explained that this move would make SHA contributions seamless.

“Additionally, we resolved that all telcos will be integrated in the SHA platform and put in place measures that afford citizens a marketplace for alternative funding to bring more Kenyans on board, and at the same make healthcare contributions seamless and affordable to all,” he detailed.

” I commend the crucial role our telecommunications companies have played and will continue playing in registering citizens into the health financing programme managed by the Social Health Authority (SHA),” he added.

“I am pleased to note that 32 million Kenyans are already registered with SHA and are accessing healthcare services paid for by Government,” he further noted.