The Ministry of Health has issued a notice to employers, providing guidelines on registering their staff for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), as part of the government’s drive to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Starting from October 1, 2024, SHIF will officially replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which has been in operation since 1966.
Employers have until September 30, 2024, to register their employees, as mandated by the Social Health Act 2023. According to the law, all Kenyan citizens, along with their dependents, are required to enroll in the SHIF program.
The notice emphasizes this obligation: “Every Kenyan citizen, including dependents, is mandated by law to register as a member of the SHA,” it stated.
To facilitate this process, employers are instructed to use the SHA Employer Portal (https://sha.go.ke/) to manage their employees’ SHIF contributions. The portal has four primary functions: registering employees and their dependents, processing SHIF contributions, generating reports, and updating employee information.
Steps to Access and Use the SHA Portal:
- Visit the SHA website and create an employer account.
- Follow the verification process to activate your account.
- Input your employees’ details and complete their registration with SHA.
- Use the portal to submit SHIF contributions on time.
The notice also reminds employers to ensure their employees are registered by the October 1, 2024, deadline to avoid any disruptions in healthcare coverage.
To support this initiative, the government has launched a nationwide awareness campaign to encourage timely registration. As of September 16, 2024, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa reported that over 1.2 million people had already signed up for SHIF.
“Over 1.2 million people have voluntarily registered. Ensure you register before seeking healthcare services. SHA will automatically transfer existing NHIF members to the new system, but completing your registration is crucial,” she stated.
