President William Ruto in National Assembly earlier today/Photo, Statehouse Kenya
President William Ruto on Thursday, 21st November 2024, renamed the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to Taifa Care, marking a significant policy shift in Kenya’s healthcare system.
Ruto in his State of the Nation Address on Thursday, expressed confidence that Taifa Care will provide effective and efficient services to all citizens.
“Despite serving a limited class of citizens, NHIF nevertheless accumulated billions of shillings in debt because of a mismatch between contributions and the actual cost of healthcare,” he said adding that Taifa Care has undertaken an accurate costing of all healthcare-related goods and services in order to provide timely, effective, and efficient service to all citizens.
This change follows the passage of the Social Health Authority Act, Number 16 of 2023 (SHA) which aims to establish a more inclusive, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) structure.
NHIF officially transitioned to SHA on 1st October 2024. All Kenyan citizens and their dependents will be required to register as Taifa Care members.
The President emphasized that under Taifa Care, citizens are eligible for all services upon registration. “Once the transition from NHIF is complete and SHIF becomes fully operational, Kenya will have a healthcare system that guarantees dignity, peace of mind, and equitable access for every citizen for the very first time in our 60 years of independence,” President Ruto declared.
Since its rollout on October 1, 2024, Taifa Care has seen over 15 million Kenyans enrolled, and 60 percent of employers have successfully transitioned into the system. However, the implementation of SHIF has faced nationwide criticism. Some members of the public have raised concerns about its effectiveness, citing the exclusion of thousands of patients from accessing healthcare services. Critics have also accused the Kenya Kwanza government of rushing to roll out the Sh104.8 billion system, questioning why the government ignored early signs of impending challenges.
Despite these concerns, President Ruto remains confident that Taifa Care will fulfill its promise of providing equitable and efficient healthcare access for all Kenyans, ensuring better service delivery and long-term sustainability.
