Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has issued an advisory to Kenyans regarding the documents required for registration with the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Speaking during a pretest exercise in Marsabit County, the CS highlighted that some Kenyans lack necessary documents such as National Identification cards and marriage certificates.
For adults without IDs, the CS advised them to apply for ID cards through the Ministry of Interior, emphasizing that IDs will be essential for the upcoming registration exercise scheduled to begin next week.
Furthermore, she acknowledged that there are couples who do not possess marriage certificates.
Therefore, she advised the affected group to seek assistance from their chiefs who are expected to write a letter confirming the marriage status of the individuals.
Marriage certificates will be required when Kenyans who want to include their wives or husbands as beneficiaries.
"There are people who are married and they do not have the marriage certificate. We require them to have it. However, for those who do not have it, they should ensure that their leaders such as chiefs know about the marriage," she stated.
"The chiefs will be able to give them letters to identify them as a family."
Meanwhile, the nationwide registration exercise is set to commence on June 21.
Kenyans will register through their mobile phones (both online and through a USSD code). Those without mobile phones will also get assistance from their community health promoters.
Additionally, assistant desks will be set up across identified health facilities to help those who will find difficulties during the self-registration exercise.
"One challenge we have seen is that some Kenyans do not have phones and we had indicated that they will be able to register by themselves. Therefore, those without phones will be assisted by community health Promoters," she added.
SHIF will officially be rolled out on July 1 with Kenyans set to make deductions of 2.75 per cent of their gross salary and income to the body replacing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
