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PS education Belio Kipsang

The Ministry of Education has announced that all students must register with the newly established Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) before the start of the upcoming school term. This new mandate follows the government's recent decision to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) with SHIF as part of its broader initiative to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across the country.

Education Principal Secretary, Dr. Belio Kipsang, emphasized the importance of this registration in a circular addressed to regional and county education directors on August 16, 2024. He stated, “Registration of Kenyans to the Social Health Insurance Fund commenced on July 1, 2024, as a key enabler towards the realization of Universal Health Coverage.” Dr. Kipsang also mentioned that all school-going children should be registered as dependents of their parents under this new scheme before the beginning of the third term.

The transition to SHIF is expected to significantly impact Kenyan households, as all citizens over the age of 18 will be required to contribute to the fund. From October 1, workers will see 2.75 percent of their gross monthly salary deducted for SHIF contributions, which will result in a substantial increase in contributions for higher earners. Those without a stable income will also be required to contribute a minimum of Sh300 per month.

This move has been met with concerns, particularly among salaried workers whose take-home pay has already been eroded by high inflation. However, the government sees this as a necessary step to pool resources and finance the UHC initiative.

The new SHIF scheme comes as a relief for many students who were left without health insurance coverage after the government terminated the Sh4.5 billion EduAfya school insurance program, which previously insured over 3.4 million learners. The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association has called on the government to ensure the continuity of the scheme to avoid any disruption in coverage for students.

In addition, the new legislation governing SHIF includes provisions for the digitization of various processes and services, ensuring that they are carried out using reliable and secure technology. These processes include the registration and identification of members, contributions, facility empanelment, contract execution, claims management, and settlement. The law also mandates that every Kenyan will be uniquely identified for health service delivery, in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2019 and other relevant laws.