President William Ruto has announced that starting next week, the government will begin covering Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions for 1.5 million Kenyans who cannot afford the coverage.

Speaking during an engagement with grassroots leaders from Turkana County at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Ruto said the initiative is aimed at ensuring access to healthcare without pushing vulnerable families into financial ruin.

“From next week, God willing, from next week, we are now going to pay for the 1.5 million Kenyans who have no capacity to pay. We will pay for them,” Ruto declared.

Govt contribution

He emphasised that those who cannot afford even the basic Ksh300 monthly SHA contribution will have their costs covered by the government, funded by increased contributions from higher earners.

“I have said, let everybody pay in accordance with their income. I pay Ksh40,000 every month. I used to pay Ksh1,000 because it wasn’t fair,” he stated.

“We have said those who can’t afford to pay even the Ksh300 for SHA, we have the money now to pay for them,” Ruto added.

According to Ruto, this new arrangement would prevent families from having to sell property or livestock to meet hospital expenses.

“That is how we are going to have a nation where nobody has to sell their property, no one has to sell their land, no one has to sell their cattle so that they can go and pay the hospital bill,” he said.

Free outpatient services

Ruto further noted that the government is committed to ensuring that every Kenyan is registered under SHA, which provides free outpatient services at public health facilities.

For inpatient services, he explained that the government will cover costs for those who are unable to pay, while those who have the financial means will contribute based on their capacity.

“Everyone should be registered for SHA for two reasons. Number one, so that you get free treatment for outpatients in dispensaries, health centres, level three, level four, and sub-county hospitals. You go there, you get treated, you get medicine, you go home, and you’re not asked for a single cent,” he explained.