Uasin Gishu Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii Chelilim has reaffirmed that no one will be left behind in the journey towards universal healthcare.
Speaking during the Social Health Authority (SHA) activation drive, Governor Dr. Bii urged residents to register and fully embrace the transformative health scheme. He directed all health facilities in the county to establish SHA desks and registration tents to ensure every citizen is reached. He further emphasized that his administration will cover SHA contributions for the elderly and persons with disabilities, in line with his Nguzo Kumi manifesto.
Dr. Bii highlighted the County’s progress, noting that by the end of the last financial year, Uasin Gishu had claimed KSh 210 million from SHA, of which KSh 172 million has already been paid out, with KSh 37 million pending—clear evidence, he said, that the system is working.
“Under our Nguzo Kumi manifesto, we have placed healthcare at the center of development. Taifa Care is a new dawn—because healthcare is not a privilege,” he stated.
Cainet Secretary for Health Services Hon. Aden Duale, speaking during the nationwide SHA rollout, echoed this sentiment, reaffirming the government’s commitment to making healthcare a right for all Kenyans—not a privilege for a few.
At the event in Uasin Gishu County, CS Duale commended the progress made under Dr. Bii’s leadership and stressed that no Kenyan should suffer financial ruin due to illness.
He lauded the sweeping health sector reforms under the Taifa Care initiative, supported by three major financial pillars: the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the Primary Health Care Fund, and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund.
These, he said, are transforming how healthcare is financed, accessed, and delivered nationwide.
“We are building a unified, inclusive, and responsive health financing system—one that serves every Kenyan, regardless of where they live or how they earn,” said Duale.
So far, over 26 million Kenyans have enrolled in SHA, including 515,612 residents from Uasin Gishu, representing an impressive 44.3% coverage rate in the county. Among these, 192,000 individuals have already undergone means testing, with the average monthly contribution set at KSh 650.
In Counties like Uasin Gishu, where informal and seasonal employment is common, the SHA model is proving to be a game-changer.
“Every single day, more than 2,000 Kenyan households are enrolling in SHA. That tells us the people are ready—we just need to keep up,” Duale added.
On the ground, the results are visible. A total of 208 health facilities in Uasin Gishu have been onboarded under SHA, including 115 public and 80 faith-based and private facilities—ensuring access across both urban and rural areas.
But SHA is not just about registration—it is about service delivery.
Duale announced that by October, as SHA marks its one-year anniversary, the government will have invested KSh 58 billion through SHIF and KSh 7.8 billion via the Primary Health Care Fund. In Uasin Gishu alone, the investment already stands at KSh 3.13 billion.
However, the CS issued a stern warning against malpractice in healthcare service delivery.
“Let me be clear: any facility—whether public, private, or faith-based—that continues to co-charge for services covered under SHA is committing a criminal act,” Duale warned. “We are watching, and we will act.”
Also speaking at the event, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni emphasized the need to strengthen the referral system through the deployment of Community Health Promoters.
She noted that the journey toward universal health coverage is not just underway—it is accelerating—and called on all Kenyans to take part.
The delegation also toured key upcoming health projects, including the proposed 2,000-bed Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kiplombe, Ziwa Level 5 Hospital, the Eye Unit at Huruma Sub-County Hospital, and the Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital.
