The Senior Economic Advisor to President William Ruto, Moses Kuria, announced today a new program that will take small daily amounts from mobile money accounts to help pay for the Social Health Authority (SHA).
This program, which was shared this afternoon, aims to make it easier for people to contribute to Kenya’s healthcare system. However, Kuria warned Kenyans to prepare for this change.
Speaking at an event in Nandi County, Kuria explained that the program will automatically take small amounts from mobile money wallets, like M-Pesa, to pay for SHA services for those who do not have a regular salary.
“We have started a program for daily deductions from Mobile Money to fund SHA,” Kuria said, highlighting its importance for providing healthcare for everyone.
The focus is on informal workers, who represent a large part of Kenya’s workforce, to support the funding of the SHA as it continues to grow.
This announcement is part of another new program where Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and boda boda riders will earn Ksh 20 for each new SHA member they help to sign up and begin paying.
“Every CHP or boda boda rider who helps new members join SHA and start contributing will receive Ksh 20,” Kuria mentioned, aiming to encourage more people to register.
By November 2024, over 15 million Kenyans had joined SHA, but there are still challenges in delivering services.
Kuria’s remarks suggested there would be no room for discussion, as he warned that citizens must adjust to these deductions or risk losing access to healthcare benefits.
While the specific amounts to be deducted and when this will start are not clear, the program fits with the government’s goal to use digital tools to collect more revenue, something Kuria has been promoting recently.
Posts on social media from Kuria’s official account and local news also shared this announcement, leading to mixed reactions online.
Health policy expert Dr. Peter Mwangi described the move as “innovative but risky,” pointing out that it depends on how well mobile money is used. “It could make payments easier for informal workers, but if there’s no clear communication, it could lead to problems,” he said.
Kenya has one of the highest uses of mobile money globally, with services like M-Pesa handling billions in transactions each month, making it a suitable platform for this kind of program.
The SHA replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024 and requires people without a salary to pay 2.75% of their household income, with a minimum payment of Ksh 300 each month.
The new deduction program aims to break this amount into smaller daily payments to make it easier, although some people are concerned about its practicality given rising living costs.
Kuria’s warning follows earlier actions to address some problems with SHA, including stopping hospitals from asking for cash from registered patients.
With this new step, the government seems committed to ensuring compliance, even as it faces public doubts. Kenyans are now waiting for more details on how these deductions will work—and how they will affect their finances.
