The Social Health Authority (SHA) has deployed field teams across the country for a month-long registration and compliance campaign running from November 16 to December 15, 2026, aiming to bring services directly to Kenyans and address persistent gaps between enrollment and active contributions.
The exercise, announced by SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, will see officers conduct door-to-door visits in homes and businesses, offering assistance with member registration, contribution reconciliation, employer compliance and flexible payment arrangements.
The campaign comes as government data shows roughly 70 percent of Kenyans had registered under the scheme by the end of October, yet many accounts remain inactive or contain discrepancies that block access to benefits.
Mwangangi said the exercise would bring SHA services closer to the public and provide an opportunity for direct engagement with members.
“This exercise will bring SHA services closer to the people and provide opportunity for direct engagement with members of the public,” Mwangangi said in a public notice issued Wednesday.
She also emphasised the importance of public participation in achieving Universal Health Coverage, describing it as a collective responsibility.
The Social Health Authority replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024 as Kenya’s vehicle for delivering Universal Health Coverage.
The transition has been accompanied by several challenges, including fraud investigations that led to the closure of over 1,000 health facilities since a crackdown began in early 2026 and disputes over unpaid claims that prompted some private hospitals to exit the scheme.
An Auditor-General’s report in March 2026 alleging irregular payments of roughly Ksh50 billion also sparked public debate, with defenders of the authority characterising the findings as transitional accounting issues rather than theft.
Despite these challenges, the government has continued expanding the scheme. By August 2026, more than 32 million Kenyans had registered, and the authority had onboarded specific groups, including 138,283 police and prison officers under the Usalama Cover and over 400,000 teachers under the Mwalimu Cover.
During the latest campaign, SHA teams will verify members’ contribution status, guide them on regularising outstanding payments and educate employers on their statutory obligations, including timely remittances.
The authority has also warned the public against fraudsters posing as SHA officers during the exercise, urging Kenyans to verify the identities of anyone claiming to represent the agency.
“All authorized SHA officers carry official and verifiable staff identification badges,” the notice stated.
SHA further reminded members that payments must only be made through its official channels and warned against giving money directly to individuals.
“No payments should be made to individuals,” the notice added.
